Digital Innovation Across Engineering, Production and Sustainment
Introduced in 2019, StarDrive is a multi-year, upfront investment to transform the way Lockheed Martin designs and builds aircraft. Developed by our Skunk Works® team, it has implemented process and tools to operate in a fully integrated digital work environment and connect previously disparate system.
By integrating model-based systems engineering, open systems architecture, and DevSecOps software development cycle, StarDrive brings the digital environment to life with a series of prototypes, paving the way for digital transformation across Lockheed Martin.
The StarDrive prototypes have delivered increasingly complex demonstrations of digital process re-engineering and infrastructure across the product lifecycle. StarDrive has established a digital thread that enables concurrent collaboration between design, manufacturing and sustainment.
CHARLIE
The CHARLIE prototype is an aircraft article built using full-size determinant assembly on composite skins, enabled by digital engineering and advanced machining. At assembly, the team aligned pre-drilled holes, placed fasteners and completed a precise build 70% faster than similar-sized articles.
POLARIS
The POLARIS prototype is an aircraft article built with full size determinant assembly by Skunk Works® and Spirit Aerosystems teams, using a collaborative integrated digital environment. Using the same digital thread data source that extends through to manufacturing, teams have the same access to design updates, digital work instructions, task status and feedback
RESULTS
With each prototype, the team has carefully measured results and documented lessons learned in order to produce proven, accurate and competitive program bids. Lockheed Martin, our customers and suppliers, work in the same secure digital environment for seamless data sharing and efficient collaboration. Demonstrated advantages include:
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SPEED
End-to-end digital engineering integration decreases the schedule to first flight, with full-size determinant assembly delivering a 50-70% reduction in assembly time with no increase in average equivalent cost compared to parts made with legacy approaches.
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AGILITY
Design clashes are mitigated with virtual builds, enabling rework to be completed as much as four times faster.
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QUALITY
CHARLIE and POLARIS demonstrated 100% hole alignment with full-size determinant assembly
Company-wide investments in process reinvention, business system modernization, 5G networking, cyber and cloud are laying the foundation for transformational capabilities.
At Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®, your mission defines our purpose. Our team of dedicated engineers and scientists assume it can be done. With a visionary focus on the future, we partner with our customers to anticipate tomorrow’s capability gaps and technology needs to solve the most critical national security challenges today.