Dstl and Lockheed Martin sign collaboration agreement

Homeland June 24, 2019

A new collaboration has been agreed between Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Lockheed Martin that will ensure ‘open and flexible’ relationship in Strategic Systems.

Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill Managing Director and Vice President, Alan Lines, hosted Gary Aitkenhead, Dstl Chief Executive at its Ampthill site, culminating in the official signing of the collaboration agreement between the two organisations.

The agreement sets the foundation of how they will work together, in partnership, to achieve strategic goals, with the contractual work to be delivered through the Lockheed Martin Special Projects Team headed by Dave Sparrow, Director for Special Projects and Mission Support.

This long-term collaborative agreement is a pledge made between the two organisations which acknowledges the benefits of shared visions and commitments to deliver UK Sovereign capability development and joint research; maximising the benefits to the Strategic Systems domain for the UK.

The deal stemmed from the Lockheed Martin Prosperity Agenda Framework, which was signed by the [then in post] Secretary of State during Farnborough Airshow last year.

Managing Director of Lockheed Martin, Alan Lines, said: “I see this as an exciting opportunity to work differently with Government, managing an open and flexible relationship will maximise the development and relevance of UK capability. This is a credit to our expertise and skills here at Ampthill.”

Gary Aitkenhead, Chief Executive at Dstl, was equally effusive about the link up, commenting: “This is a great opportunity for Dstl. Working with Lockheed Martin will enable us to strengthen and grow the UK’s capability, skills and knowledge in this area. Partnership with industry is absolutely the way for Dstl and its customers to stay at the cutting-edge of innovation.”