Lockheed Martin to donate facilities, aircraft in COVID-19 response plan

BETHESDA, Maryland — Lockheed Martin Corp. on Friday announced it will donate the use of its facilities for crisis-related activities, including critical medical-supply storage, distribution, and COVID-19 testing, “where needed and practical.”

It’s among several steps the company will take as an “initial contribution” to the national COVID-19 relief and recovery effort.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) — a Bethesda, Maryland–based defense contractor — has two plants in Central New York, in Salina and in Owego — as part of the firm’s rotary and mission systems (RMS) business area. The plants employ about 4,100 people combined.

Company response plan

Besides the facility donation, Lockheed Martin will offer its engineering and technical capabilities to help solve the “most pressing challenges” faced by federal, state, and local officials.

The manufacturer and technology company will also donate the use of its corporate aircraft and vehicle fleet for COVID-19 relief logistical support and medical supply delivery.

Lockheed Martin says it will give more than $50 million to small- and medium-sized business partners in our supply chain to “ensure they have the financial means to continue to operate, sustain jobs, and support the economy,” per the company’s statement.

In addition, Lockheed will also donate $10 million to nonprofit organizations involved in COVID-19-related relief and assistance, “with emphasis on veterans and military families.”

The company also activated a $6.5 million employee disaster-relief fund to assist Lockheed Martin employees and retirees impacted with COVID-19.

The defense contractor, “during this time of economic uncertainty,” also plans to continue its recruiting and hiring. With the social-distancing mandate, Lockheed Martin will deploy virtual technology and other techniques to “sustain our hiring activity during this crisis period.”