- General Motors is in talks with Lockheed Martin to produce parts for weapons systems
- GM would make commonly used components to help Lockheed boost munitions output
- The discussion comes as U.S. missile and munitions stocks have thinned over the wars in Ukraine and Iran
General Motors is negotiating with Lockheed Martin to manufacture parts for the latter’s weapons systems, a move that would deepen the automaker’s push into the defense market as the Pentagon scrambles to rebuild depleted munitions stocks.
The Wall Street Journal reported the talks on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Under the arrangement, GM would produce commonly used components to help Lockheed raise its munitions output, though the companies are still determining which parts. An announcement could come as soon as this week.
Why Are Munitions Stockpiles Running Low?
American inventories of missiles and other munitions have thinned out over the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and the established defense contractors restocking them have struggled to keep pace. That gap has opened the door to manufacturers outside the industry.
The bottleneck sits below Lockheed itself. The contractor — known for the F-35; Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD; and Black Hawk — took on commitments to turn out more interceptors, but the network of suppliers feeding those lines has not been able to deliver fast enough.
What Is GM Defense Reaching for Next?
GM CEO Mary Barra has met with administration officials about a larger military role for the company, which is seeking new revenue as it reshapes its core business. GM re-entered defense work roughly a decade ago through its GM Defense subsidiary, which began by pursuing infantry vehicle contracts; the current talks, ongoing since early this year, would broaden that unit’s scope.
It would also add GM to a list of automakers eyeing defense as global car sales slump and factory capacity sits idle. Volkswagen has discussed building components for Israel’s Iron Dome at a German plant, and Mercedes-Benz’s chief executive said the company could move into European defense production.
