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Going Lockheed Martin’s technologies have helped strengthen regional
security for many decades and play a crucial role in deterring
geopolitical threats. We help our partners protect their national
interests while strengthening their industries and communities
from within.
Strong As we look to the future, the rapid advancement of artificial intelli-
gence, next-generation advanced materials, autonomous systems,
and cyber-hardened mission systems have the potential to create
new solutions that will shape our industry for decades to come.
From a capabilities perspective, developments such as Multi-
Domain Operations or Joint All-Domain Operations (MDO/JADO),
the space sector, advanced air mobility, hypersonics, electric pro- [ INTERVIEW LOCKHEED MARTIN ]
pulsion, and hydrogen-powered aircraft are all likely to drive growth.
In terms of geographies, we see strong growth potential across
the GCC region, including the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and
Saudi Arabia.
How has the pandemic impacted Lockheed
Martin, and do you think it has affected aerospace
defence spending in the Middle East?
As the regional threat landscape continues to evolve in unpredict-
able ways, countries in the Middle East have remained consistent
in their defence spending despite the pandemic. Our industry
is regularly asked to address new and complex challenges that
require innovation and concerted efforts, and COVID-19 has not
changed that.
Thanks to our agile yet well-developed and comprehensive pro-
tocols and procedures, Lockheed Martin has managed the fallout
of pandemic-related challenges well so far. Since the start of the
crisis, we have been guided by three clear priorities: protecting our
people’s health and safety, continuing to perform and deliver for our
partners, and using our know-how and resources to support the
countries we operate in. The past 18 months have been a testing
time globally and we will hopefully be able to close this chapter
sooner rather than later.
Interview: Robert (Bob) Harward, Lockheed Martin has had a long-standing
Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin, relationship with the Middle East and the GCC
Middle East region. How have your regional operations fared
in the past few years?
As the regional threat landscape continues Since the 1960s, we have developed wide-ranging capabilities for
to evolve in unpredictable ways, countries in our Middle East partners. We entered the region with a delivery
the Middle East have remained consistent in of the C-130 Hercules airlifter to Saudi Arabia in 1965. Since then,
their defence spending despite the pandemic, our portfolio has expanded to include defence, advanced tech-
says Robert (Bob) Harward, Chief Executive, nologies, space, and energy solutions. In Jordan, we delivered the
Lockheed Martin, Middle East, in an interview first F-104s in 1967. Today, we offer 15 products and services, and
with Jay Menon, Deputy Editor with Asian work continuously with the Jordanian Armed Forces to improve
Defence Technology (ADT). Excerpts from the their capabilities.
interview:
We have been in the UAE since 1980, operating a comprehensive
As the region enters the post- portfolio in defence, advanced technology, security solutions, and
pandemic recovery phase, in which knowledge transfer programs. Egypt was the first Arab country
areas and geographies do you see to purchase F-16s in 1980. Since then, we have delivered multiple
the most substantial potential for security solutions for our partners there.
We initiated our partnership with Bahrain more than 40 years ago
growth? with the delivery of the L-1011 TriStar commercial airliner. Bahrain
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