FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 16, 2026 – Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), today confirmed that it is actively pursuing the establishment of a Next Generation Rotorcraft (NGRC) production line in Europe. The move underscores Sikorsky’s commitment to deepening its partnership with NATO and advancing collaborative research and development in Europe. 

“We are committed to strengthening our strategic partnerships, expanding industrial capacity and deepening our long-term presence in Europe,” said Dr. Dennis Goege, Lockheed Martin chief executive for Europe. “Local production supports a highly skilled regional workforce, reinforces Europe’s defence industrial base and enhances NATO readiness.” 

Strategic Benefits 

• Enhanced Alliance Readiness – Locating development, production and component manufacturing in Europe improves logistics and strengthens NATO’s rapid response posture. 
• Industrial Growth & Workforce Development – The initiative will generate highskill jobs, stimulate local supply chains and provide training opportunities for the next generation of aerospace engineers. 
• Global Innovation Network – By integrating insights from global partners and leveraging multinational expertise, Sikorsky aims to deliver a truly global NGRC solution that meets the highest standards of performance, safety and cost effectiveness. 

Key Highlights 

• Ongoing Studies & Concept Development – The company is engaging in various studies on advanced airframe configurations, open architecture avionics systems and mission capabilities that satisfy NATO’s evolving deterrence concepts. 
• European Industry Partnerships – Sikorsky will partner with leading European aerospace firms, industry, and suppliers as part of a robust, locally sourced NGRC production line. These collaborations will foster technology transfer, job creation and sustainment capabilities throughout the region and world. 
• Global NGRC Variant – X2 – Parallel to the European effort, Sikorsky is expanding its work in Asia, where growing interest has led to a joint program with industry leaders to develop an international X2 variant. This initiative leverages global expertise to deliver a truly next generation, versatile rotorcraft platform adaptable to diverse operational environments. 

The NGRC program initiative began in 2022 and includes France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Canada. The United States and Spain are currently acting as observers. Under the NGRC program, NATO is seeking to develop a medium-class, multi-role rotorcraft aimed to replace medium multi-role helicopters currently in service. NSPA, through its dedicated NGRC Support Partnership, will lead the effort to fulfill this upcoming requirement, in a timely and cost-effective manner, while concurrently leveraging a broad range of recent advances in technology, production methods, and operational concepts. 

About Lockheed Martin  

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at www.lockheedmartin.com. 
 

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Melissa Chadwick, melissa.a.chadwick@lmco.com; +1-202-740-5997