Lockheed Martin Corp , the Pentagon’s No. 1 weapons supplier, has rarely felt the need to blow its horn about its secrecy-shrouded crown jewel – until now.
“Skunk Works,” Lockheed’s business for developing weapons outside the company’s main chain of command, is starting to lift the veil in a sign of fierce pressure to win new orders and protect its brand as military budgets shrink.
The pride of Lockheed, Skunk Works has been celebrated since it developed the first jet fighter in 143 days during World War Two to battle the Nazis. But its logo was kept off buildings and employees were barred from saying where they worked.
Now, the company has published a glossy brochure with a 10-point “Skunk Works 2015” agenda focused on keeping costs down, working closely with government, and building prototypes. Its officials are meeting in small groups with all 3,300 employees, or “Skunks” as they are known, to underscore the importance of staying competitive.
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