Lockheed Martin launches Astris AI

To enable secure AI solutions

Lockheed Martin has launched Astris AI, a new subsidiary designed to foster the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions within the US defence industrial base and commercial sectors that require high assurance. The move highlights Lockheed Martin’s commitment to advancing secure, resilient, and scalable AI systems for industries facing complex technological challenges.

Lockheed Martin has invested heavily in creating an industry-leading Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) software capability and a generative AI platform tailored explicitly to the needs of high-assurance end users.

These resources are now available externally through Astris AI, opening the door for defence and commercial industries to build and deploy advanced AI solutions that adhere to the highest security and reliability standards.

Astris AI offers organisations access to Lockheed Martin’s cutting-edge AI and Machine Learning (ML) platforms. These include the AI Factory MLOps platform and a suite of generative AI software designed with the stringent security and compliance requirements demanded by industries operating in highly regulated environments.

Built with an open-architecture approach, these platforms enable modularity. They offer cost and technology advantages that help companies keep pace with the rapidly evolving technological landscape.

As businesses face the challenge of scaling AI solutions, Astris AI’s tools are positioned to address these issues by providing adaptable, resilient, and secure AI solutions that can scale to meet the demands of a fast-changing world.

In addition to offering cutting-edge tools, Astris AI provides end-to-end consulting services. These services include MLOps and generative AI strategy, implementation, training, and scale model development, empowering organisations to take control of their AI tools, data, and solutions.

With the demand for AI talent far outstripping supply, many companies struggle to develop AI solutions at scale. Astris AI mitigates these barriers by tapping into Lockheed Martin’s pool of AI experts. These experts bring domain-specific expertise and technological acumen to help businesses navigate the AI landscape.

Astris AI benefits from Lockheed Martin’s AI Factory ecosystem, the backbone of its AI solutions. The AI team is led by Mike Baylor, Chief Digital and AI Officer, and Greg Forrest, Director of AI Foundations. They bring extensive expertise in AI and machine learning. Forrest expressed excitement about Lockheed Martin’s progress in AI/ML and the opportunity to apply this expertise to bolster the defence industrial base.

Astris AI’s Chief Revenue Officer, Donna O’Donnell, will drive the company’s growth and development. O’Donnell brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles, including as Global Vice President of AI and Intelligent Automation at Xerox, where she oversaw global automation sales operations. Her leadership will help position Astris AI as a key player in delivering AI solutions across industries.

“Astris AI is perfectly positioned to provide AI and MLOps solutions across industries,” O’Donnell remarked. “Combining Lockheed Martin’s expertise with Astris AI’s agile approach enables organisations to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving technology landscape with high-assurance AI solutions that deliver secure, reliable interactions and responsible decision-making.”

The formation of Astris AI underscores Lockheed Martin’s ongoing commitment to advancing 21st-century security, strengthening the defence industrial base, and enhancing US national security. It also highlights Lockheed Martin’s leadership in integrating commercial technologies, ensuring customers stay ahead of emerging threats in an increasingly complex global environment.

Astris AI is the latest addition to Lockheed Martin’s Evolve portfolio, a business initiative focused on creating and scaling new commercial and non-traditional ventures that support the defence industrial base.

Hero image: Besides offering cutting-edge tools, Astris AI provides end-to-end consulting services. Credit: Tara Winstead