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The Airframer Bulletin

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
All news ✕ Clear ‹ Current edition

Every Bulletin story and press release covering Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, newest first.

52 items · page 1 of 2

2026
17 June

ReleaseLockheed Martin, government officials tout site's 75 years of manufacturing excellence and a strong future

10 June The concept combines a lifting fuselage with electrically powered boundary layer ingesting tail fans.

Electra advances hybrid-electric concept architecture for 2050

NASA-backed research has explored how electrification could deliver additional efficiency gains while remaining compatible with existing airline operations.

2025
17 December The F-16 Block 70 combines a modern digital cockpit with a 12,000-hour service life to support long-term operational demands.

Lockheed completes initial F-16s for Bulgaria and Slovakia

The finished aircraft strengthen NATO interoperability while advancing national air defence modernisation plans across both air forces.

11 December

ReleaseEvio launches hybrid-electric aircraft program with 450 pre-orders

3 December

ReleaseElectra launches Defense unit to deliver next generation airlift solutions for the last tactical leg

26 November

ReleaseXeriant elevates Holt to lead Factor X as company builds a Skunk Works–style innovation engine

30 October The aircraft’s design aims to reduce the sonic boom to ‘a gentle thump’.

Lockheed Martin X-59 completes first flight with NASA

The experimental aircraft flew safely from Palmdale to Edwards in California as part of a NASA programme to reduce the impact of sonic booms and enable future overland supersonic travel.

25 September Skunk Works aims to design, build and fly Vectis within two years.

Skunk Works reveals survivable Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft

The Vectis aircraft has been designed to combine stealth and affordability with mission flexibility, supporting Indo-Pacific, European and Central Command theatres through advanced manufacturing and digital engineering.

12 September

ReleaseIstari Digital and AFRL expand partnership to advance digitally-certified aircraft development

11 September The first system will focus on electronic warfare and attack missions.

Lockheed and BAE form uncrewed systems partnership

The collaboration was launched at the DSEI global defence conference in the UK and will focus on developing modular uncrewed platforms with electronic warfare and attack capabilities.

17 July Data gathered during testing will feed into Lockheed Martin's collaborative combat aircraft development.

Radar autonomy and AI feature in West Coast test

AI-enabled target recognition allowed Lockheed Martin onboard systems to distinguish hostile vessels from civilian craft using only local radar processing.

19 June

ReleaseLockheed Martin and Electra expand collaboration to accelerate EL9 Ultra-STOL commercialization

23 April

Release‘World first’ material to revolutionise aerospace

14 April

ReleaseSkunk Works and Arquimea develop AI capable ISR platforms

9 January The X-59, a unique experimental aircraft from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, is part of the Quesst (Quiet Supersonic Technology) mission of U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to quiet loud sonic booms.

Collier software optimises X-59 nose cone for Swift

Swift Engineering used Collier Aerospace’s HyperX software to achieve over 25% weight reduction on the X-59’s nose cone, meeting critical design requirements.

2024
13 November The X-59 is a one-of-a-kind test aircraft designed to achieve quiet supersonic flight and transform future commercial air travel.

X-59's engine fires up for last major ground test

Following these successful engine runs, the X-59 will be evaluated for electromagnetic interference effects, simulated in-flight failure modes and validation of the emergency power system.

12 November

ReleaseNASA selects Electra as awardee in AACES 2050 program

19 August

ReleaseIstari Digital unveils X-Plane to become world's first digitally-certified aircraft

18 January Fresh out of Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works.

NASA reveals the X-59 noise-reduction X-Plane

Years of research, development and production of this one-of-a-kind technology demonstrator aircraft should reduce the loudness of sonic booms to a gentle thump.

2022
11 February

ReleaseNASA's X-59 calls on Texas for key testing

6 January NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft (QueSST) is pictured here at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in California, wrapped up in preparation for its move to Texas.

Quiet supersonic demonstrator starts ground testing in Texas

While in Texas, ground testing of the X-59 will ensure the aircraft can withstand the loads and stresses that typically occur during flight. The team will also calibrate and test the fuel systems.

2021
25 November A view of the X-59 being supported by ground supports in preparation for installation of the landing gear and other hardware required for structural testing.

Supersonic X-59 enters final assembly phase

Removed from its jig, the X-59 is ready for final assembly including the first power-on of the aircraft to test its internal systems. The first flight is planned for 2022.

29 September During the testing the X-59 will fly at supersonic speeds over communities as part of the low boom flight demonstration. NASA will then gather community feedback to the noise of the quiet supersonic flight.

X-59 prepares for quiet supersonic flight testing

The Lockheed Martin X-59's nose design should allow for quiet supersonic flight, turning the usual sonic boom into a quiet sonic thump. The aircraft will be tested over residential areas and noise feedback will be collected.

8 September

ReleaseNASA completes tests of X-59 eXternal Vision System

12 August

Latest Skunk Works factory delivers intelligence and flexibility

Lockheed Martin set three goals for its latest production building: An intelligent factory framework; a technology-enabled environment; and flexibility to meet priorities with speed and agility. Tick, tick, tick.

3 August

ReleaseX-59 resembles actual aircraft

15 June

ReleaseNASA fine tunes air data system on supersonic X-plane

13 May The X-59 is fitted with Quiet Supersonic Technologies (QueSST).

NASA's quiet supersonic research aircraft could fly in 2022

Innovative features on top of the X-59 wing should re-shape the shock wave pattern, substantially reducing the sonic boom to more of a sonic "thump" when it reaches the ground. Collins is onboard for the avionics.

3 May

ReleaseLockheed Martin Skunk Works' Project Hydra demonstrates 5th gen to 5th gen communications across domains

7 April

ReleaseContinuous Composites demonstrates CF3D technology for Lockheed Martin and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Wing Structure Design for Manufacturing (WiSDM) Project

2020
17 December

ReleaseNASA awards contract for X-59 community overflight operations

14 December

ReleaseNASA's Supersonic X-59 assembly team marks wing milestone

13 November

ReleaseX-59 assembly presses on

29 October The cockpit of the X-59 at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works factory in Palmdale.

X-59 assembly progresses despite pandemic challenges

Lockheed Martin is assembling the experimental aircraft for NASA in anticipation of its first flight some time in mid-2022, and is now turning its attention to the cockpit space.

17 September

ReleaseNASA marks continued progress on X-59

20 July

ReleaseDARPA awards contracts for new X-Plane program based on active flow control

15 June

ReleaseMore pieces of the X-59 are coming together

30 April

ReleaseWork on X-59 QueSST wing nears completion

17 January

ReleaseX-59 construction reaches halfway point

2019
16 December

ReleaseNASA's X-59 Quiet Supersonic research aircraft cleared for final assembly

26 August

ReleaseTesting of X-59 virtual forward window successful

17 June

ReleaseCollins Aerospace to provide Environmental Control System and multiple flight control surfaces for NASA X-59 Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator

17 January

ReleaseCollins Aerospace goes supersonic with win on new X-59 QueSST demonstrator aircraft

2018
19 November

ReleaseNASA's quiet supersonic technology project passes major milestone

16 November

ReleaseSupersonic commercial travel begins to take shape at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

3 April

ReleaseNASA selects Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to build X-Plane

2017
26 June

ReleaseNASA completes milestone toward quieter supersonic X-Plane

24 February

ReleaseNASA wind tunnel tests Lockheed Martin's X-Plane design for a Quieter Supersonic Jet

2014
11 July

ReleaseNorth Atlantic Industries to provide flight control systems for ARES unmanned demonstrator

2013
13 December

ReleaseSikorsky Innovations awarded contract for Phase 1 DARPA X-Plane program