Diehl Defence and Lockheed Martin to co-operate on naval air defence

German missile and air defence specialist Diehl Defence and US company Lockheed Martin have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the potential of combining their integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) capabilities for international surface combat vessel programmes. The MoU was announced on 18 November 2025 and was signed during a ceremony at the 2025 Berlin Security Conference.

More specifically, the collaboration will see the companies exploring the integration of the Diehl’s IRIS‑T family of missiles into Lockheed Martin’s Aegis Weapon System and MK41 and MK70 Vertical Launching Systems. Integrating the IRIS‑T family into Aegis would represent the first European missile ever integrated into the combat system.

“This strategic collaboration continues to showcase the scalability and increased capacity of our programmes, which bring next‑generation IAMD capability and 21st century security worldwide,” Chandra Marshall, vice president at Lockheed Martin, was quoted as saying in a joint press release. “We have partnered with German industry for more than five decades, and we are proud to deepen our relationships by working with leading innovators such as Diehl Defence.”

Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence, added, “With Diehl Defence and Lockheed Martin linking up their expertise and capabilities, navies around the globe can benefit from the optimum for air defence systems on their surface combat vessels. We are proud to intensify our collaboration with Lockheed Martin in the field of guided missiles and the air defence applications.”

Diehl Defence and Lockheed Martin have previously co-operated on various projects. Most recently, in mid-October 2025, both companies signed an MoU regarding co-operation on the global supply chain for missiles for the Patriot air defence system. This co-operation will now be complemented by the maritime air defence project.