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Private company

Skunk Works

Logo: w:user:Malfita, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Aerospace research facility in the United States

Skunk Works is an official pseudonym for Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Programs (ADP), the company's tactical research and development arm. It is responsible for a number of aircraft designs, highly classified development programs, and exotic aircraft platforms.2 It was founded by Kelly Johnson.1 It is headquartered in Palmdale.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1943Founded1

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SR71 factoryfloor SkunkWorks
Photo: CIA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

Skunk Works is an official pseudonym for Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Programs (ADP), the company's tactical research and development arm. It is responsible for a number of aircraft designs, highly classified development programs, and exotic aircraft platforms.2

Corporate structure

Skunk Works is part of a group headed by Lockheed Martin. 47 entities, 7 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Lockheed Martin Bethesda, Maryland, United States
    • LOCKHEED MARTIN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CO Bethesda, Maryland, United States
      • Highmark Fixed Income 3 Fund · Rockville, Maryland, United States
      • HIGHMARK LIMITED Fund · Bethesda, Maryland, United States
        • Highmark Fixed Income Arbitrage 2 Fund · Hong Kong, Hong Kong
        • Highmark Global 3 Fund · Hamilton, Bermuda
        • Highmark Long/Short Equity 14 Fund · Hamilton, Bermuda
        • Highmark Long/Short Equity 15 Fund · Hamilton, Bermuda
        • Highmark Long/Short Equity 20 Fund · New York, New York, United States
        • Highmark Long/Short Equity 4 Fund · Hamilton, Bermuda
        • Highmark Relative Value 1 Fund · New York, New York, United States
        • HIGHMARK RELATIVE VALUE 2 Fund · Harrison, New York, United States
      • HIGHMARK LIMITED - HIGHMARK LONG/SHORT EQUITY 9 Fund · Wilmington, Delaware, United States
      • Highmark Long/Short Credit 3 Fund · Bethesda, Maryland, United States
      • Highmark Long/Short Equity 3 Fund · Bethesda, Maryland, United States
      • Highmark Multi-Strategy 2 Fund · Bethesda, Maryland, United States
    • Lockheed Martin UK Havant, United Kingdom
    • Skunk Works Palmdale
    • United Launch Alliance Subsidiary · 50% · Centennial
    • United Space Alliance Subsidiary · 50% · Houston
    • Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Subsidiary
    • Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors Subsidiary
    • Pacific Architects and Engineers Subsidiary · Arlington County
    • PZL Mielec Subsidiary · Mielec
    • Real3D Subsidiary · Orlando
    • Terran Orbital Corporation Subsidiary · Irvine
    • Astrolink International, LLC Subsidiary · Delaware, United States
    • Helicopter Support, Inc. Subsidiary · Connecticut, United States
    • Lockheed Martin (United Kingdom) Subsidiary · United Kingdom
    • Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Subsidiary · United States
    • Lockheed Martin Australia Pty Limited Subsidiary · Australia
    • Lockheed Martin Canada, Inc. Subsidiary · Canada
    • Lockheed Martin Global Training and Logistics Subsidiary · Florida, United States
    • Lockheed Martin Global, Inc. Subsidiary · Delaware, United States
    • Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions Subsidiary
    • Lockheed Martin Investments, Inc. Subsidiary · Delaware, United States
    • Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Subsidiary · United States
    • Lockheed Martin Overseas, LLC Subsidiary · Delaware, United States
    • Lockheed Martin Space Subsidiary · United States
    • Lockheed Martin TAS International Corporation Subsidiary · Bethesda, Maryland, United States
    • and 8 more

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 of annual reports filed with the SEC; subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by Kelly Johnson in 1943.1

Leadership

Who has led Skunk Works, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1943Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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