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Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 tech demo is set to launch in 2025

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has announced continued investment in its technology demonstrations with the upcoming launch of the LM 400, a new, mid-sized, common, multi-mission space vehicle.

The LM 400 has completed testing and is currently preparing to embark on its journey on a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket in the first half of 2025.

The LM 400 was digitally designed and developed for:

  • Any Mission: LM 400 is a common satellite bus design that provides significant customer cost savings. Missions could include remote sensing, communications, imaging and radar.  
  • Any Orbit: LM 400 was designed with greater propulsion and better low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) operability compared to others in its class. 
  • Any Launch Configuration: LM 400 is compatible with a wide range of launch vehicles as a single, ride-share or multi-launch system.
  • Mission Flexibility: LM 400 includes SmartSat™, the company’s software-defined architecture that gives customers even greater mission flexibility and the ability to perform on-board data processing.
Artistic rendition of Lockheed Martin’s SmartSat™ on-orbit, image courtesy of the company.
  • Support to CJADC2: LM 400 can conform to a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), and interoperate with other platforms across the military services to support the Department of Defense’s vision for Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) operations.

This mission will join Lockheed Martin’s growing self-funded technology demonstration portfolio, including the Electronically Steerable Antenna  and Pony Express 2 (artistic rendition below). These launches are centered on innovation and designed to deliver proven capabilities with greater speed and agility, which means customers gain access to advanced manufacturing and digital engineering that has already been tested on-orbit to address emerging threats.

Artistic rendition of Lockheed Martin’s ESA in use on-orbit, image courtesy of the company.
Artistic rendition of Lockheed Martin’s Pony Express 2 on-orbit, image courtesy of the company.

“The LM 400 is Lockheed Martin’s most capable space vehicle, and is able to serve any mission in any orbit,” said Jeff Schrader, vice president, strategy and business development at Lockheed Martin Space. “This mid-sized, common bus is a game changer, because it can support any type of customer, including military, civil and commercial users – and can be customized to each individual mission.”

A Lockheed Martin technician inspects the LM 400 tech demo.

To learn more about Lockheed Martin’s technology demonstrations, access this direct link…