Power Pairings Advancing Aerospace & Defense: New Tech Collaborations From ABB, Lockheed Martin, Deep Robotics, and More
Technology doesn't advance in isolation. In our 'Power Pairings' round-up series, we spotlight the partnerships that are advancing manufacturing—where companies from different domains, expertise, and technological backgrounds converge to solve industrial challenges or refine industrial solutions.
Lockheed Martin and Google Cloud Enhance National Security With Generative AI
Companies involved: Lockheed Martin, Google Cloud
At a glance: Lockheed Martin and Google Public Sector are integrating Google's generative AI capabilities into Lockheed's AI Factory ecosystem to accelerate AI-driven solutions for national security, aerospace, and scientific applications.
This partnership combines Lockheed’s secure, high-assurance AI platform with Google Cloud’s Vertex AI for scalable training and deployment of large language models. The collaboration aims to improve intelligence analysis, real-time decision-making, predictive maintenance, engineering optimization, supply chain efficiency, secure software development, and workforce training.
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Anduril Industries and FlackTek Partner to Revolutionize Solid Rocket Motor Production
Companies Involved: Anduril Industries, FlackTek
At a Glance: Partnership launches MEGA FlackTek, a bladeless dual asymmetric centrifugal mixer that increases rocket motor propellant production throughput by over 24x and reduces mixing time from hours to minutes.
Building on a partnership since 2020, this collaboration boosts defense manufacturing capacity to meet urgent Department of Defense demands by scaling production throughput more than 24 times that of conventional planetary mixers. FlackTek's technology integrates enhanced safety features and regulatory compliance to optimize the manufacturing of high-performance energetic materials.
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Shield AI and Korea Aerospace Industries Partner to Advance AI Pilots for Manned/Unmanned Teaming
Companies involved: Shield AI, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Quantum Aero
At a glance: Shield AI has partnered with KAI to accelerate the development of AI pilots using Shield AI's Hivemind Enterprise autonomy software suite—already deployed on platforms like the F-16 and various unmanned systems. This collaboration aims to rapidly advance scalable, mission-ready AI autonomy
Shield AI's software enables intelligent machines to operate effectively in GPS and communications-denied environments, supporting faster, production-quality autonomy development. Integration support from Shield AI's Korean partner, Quantum Aero, fosters stronger aerospace AI collaboration between South Korea and U.S. innovators.
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ABB Awarded Contract by L3Harris to Develop Infrared Interferometer for Next-Gen Hyperspectral Sounder
Companies involved: ABB, L3Harris Technologies, Mitsubishi Electric, Japan Meteorological Agency
At a glance: ABB won a contract from L3Harris to develop a high-resolution infrared interferometer system for the next-generation hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounder onboard Japan Meteorological Agency's Himawari-10 geostationary satellite.
The system will provide 3D mapping of temperature and humidity over the Asia-Pacific region with data more than 100 times richer than current capabilities, enhancing weather forecasting accuracy and prediction of extreme events. This follows ABB's previous supply of interferometers for L3Harris's Cross-track Infrared Sounder series for polar-orbiting satellites since 2011.
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Kandi Technologies and DEEP Robotics Partner on Security Inspection Quadrupeds for North America
Companies Involved: Kandi Technologies, DEEP Robotics
At a Glance: A new cross-border partnership aims to localize and scale production of autonomous quadruped security robots for 24/7 monitoring in energy, logistics, and public safety.
Kandi Technologies is teaming up with DEEP Robotics to co-develop and produce industrial-grade security inspection quadrupeds in North America. DEEP brings proven expertise in autonomous mobility and AI perception, while Kandi contributes systems integration, large-scale manufacturing, and its U.S. footprint through subsidiary SC Autosports.
The robots are designed for continuous autonomous inspection and remote monitoring, with ruggedized capabilities for demanding sectors such as defense, infrastructure, and critical logistics. The partnership supports localized production and is poised to meet growing U.S. demand for advanced robotic security solutions.
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