Why Lockheed Martin’s Philippine R&D hub will be on China’s radar

The US defence giant’s ‘soft-power’ play with ‘hard-power’ effects is a combination China will find concerning, analysts say

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Lockheed Martin’s factory at Fort Worth, US. Photo: Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS

Published: 8:00am, 18 Aug 2025Updated: 5:11pm, 18 Aug 2025

Lockheed Martin is set to establish an R&D facility in Manila in partnership with a major Philippine university, in a move analysts say will both strengthen the nation’s technological foundations and enmesh it further into Washington’s regional security framework.

The American defence giant announced on Tuesday a collaboration with Southern Methodist University (SMU) aimed at boosting innovation, developing advanced technologies and nurturing local talent in partnership with Philippine academic and industrial institutions. The initiative forms part of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70 proposal for the Philippine military’s multi-role fighter programme.

Jess Koloini, business development lead for Lockheed Martin’s F-16 programme, described the partnership as an investment in “new capabilities and intellectual properties” through close cooperation with the Philippines’ leading universities and companies.

“This partnership will not only support the country’s ‘self-reliant defence posture’, but also create a lasting impact on the Filipino workforce, driving economic growth and prosperity,” he said.

Visitors at Lockheed Martin’s exhibition stall during the Aero India air show on February 12. Photo: EPA-EFE

Under the agreement, SMU’s Centre for Digital and Human-Augmented Manufacturing and its Deason Innovation Gym will help strengthen Philippine research and development capacity in digital modelling, simulations, robotics, automation, artificial intelligence and virtual and augmented reality.

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Why Lockheed Martin’s Philippine R&D hub will be on China’s radar

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The US defence giant’s ‘soft-power’ play with ‘hard-power’ effects is a combination China will find concerning, analysts say

The US defence giant’s ‘soft-power’ play with ‘hard-power’ effects is a combination China will find concerning, analysts say