President-elect Donald Trump’s efficiency initiative, co-led by Elon Musk, may promote collaborations between major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and smaller tech firms specializing in AI, drones, and uncrewed submarines. At the Reagan National Defense Forum, industry leaders discussed opportunities for smaller companies to gain a greater role in defense, with Musk’s influence potentially challenging the dominance of established defense giants. Critics of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program, including Musk, advocate for more cost-effective, AI-powered solutions, aligning with smaller firms’ innovation. Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar highlighted the value of collaboration, urging a move beyond zero-sum competition to mutual benefits for defense contractors. The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, aimed at replacing the F-22 with a sixth-generation fighter, exemplifies this shift, with firms like Anduril and General Atomics already selected to test prototypes alongside larger competitors like Lockheed and Northrop Grumman.
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