The speed and precision of today’s missile threats leave no room for hesitation. In an evolving battlespace where seconds define national security decisions, the human touch is fundamental to mission success; however, even the most experienced operators can face information overload. 

Lockheed Martin is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to cut down on cognitive burnout, modernize defense systems and stay ahead of tomorrow's challenges. As systems mature, AI is increasingly used as a decision-support tool, expanding the way people use technology to process information and make sense of developing situations. 

“Cognitive overload has become a pressing issue as modern systems become more complex,” said Christine Edwards, a Lockheed Martin Fellow focused on autonomy and AI. “AI tools are improving tasks humans find hard or tedious, allowing us to shift our focus from wrestling with raw data to understanding the situation and making informed decisions."

Smart Defense

Missile defense relies on sensing, interpreting and acting on information quickly. 

AI sorts through large amounts of data in seconds, surfacing the most important details first. By highlighting unusual patterns and fusing information from multiple sensors, AI simplifies what operators see and reduces the burden of routine analysis. This gives teams a clearer operational picture.

“By leveraging AI’s ability to sift through data and connect information across sensors, we can streamline how new systems are integrated,” Edwards said.  

When paired with software-development processes that prioritize mission assurance, AI tools that assist with decision-making can improve mission performance while also boosting safety and reducing the risk of human error.

Next Generation Solutions

Lockheed Martin’s Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) leverages AI to compress what used to be a multi-year, manual design loop into a rapid, data-driven process. The result of this expedited timeline is a lighter, more robust interceptor that reaches performance milestones much more quickly than previous approaches. 

AI also reshapes the interceptor’s software development cycle.

Large-language model assistants highlight potential concurrency issues and recommend adjustments to increase deterministic behavior, all while adhering to strict software-assurance standards required for safety-critical flight software. Coupled with AI-augmented test-case generation and coverage analysis, much of the verification-and-validation effort becomes automated, cutting schedules and delivering higher confidence in NGI’s functions without sacrificing rigor.  

Looking ahead, NGI aims to adopt continuous-learning capabilities. By ingesting flight and sensor data, NGI can refine its guidance algorithms, improve efficiency and tighten the “fight for survival” margin against evolving threats. 

Above the Atmosphere

From Earth to orbit, space is no longer the “final frontier,” it’s the center of the action. 

Satellites play a critical role in missile warning, tracking and communications, collecting enormous amounts of data every day. AI processes the information in seconds, identifying changes that could indicate a threat and helping operators differentiate between regular activities and issues that require immediate attention. 

“We’ve implemented AI tools that have optimized maintenance and reuse in multiple systems, flagged the need for repairs of aircraft components and extended satellite life,” Edwards said.  

In one case, an AI-enabled monitoring tool identified a satellite component that was on a path toward failure. Previously, traditional monitoring would have seen this failure with only months to spare. The new tools flagged the issue with more than a year remaining, ensuring operators could adjust the satellite’s operations and continue the mission.

As the pace of space activity accelerates, AI strengthens the connections between satellites and the broader missile defense network. It ensures critical information flows quickly, systems remain reliable and crews have the insight necessary to protect the homeland in an ever-changing world.