By Kalea Hall
DETROIT, June 16 (Reuters) - General Motors and defense company Lockheed Martin are collaborating on projects to strengthen the U.S. manufacturing and defense industrial base, the companies said Tuesday.
GM Defense, the automaker's defense business unit, and Lockheed said the U.S. Department of Defense facilitated their partnership due to the growing demand for additional production capacity for defense products.
The companies did not provide specific details on which projects they will
work on, but said they will focus on three key areas: improving production readiness, strengthening supply chains, and applying advanced manufacturing and design approaches to increase efficiency.
Bruce Brown, head of strategy for GM Defense, said the company will look at using its labs and production facilities for the partnership.
GM is investing $9 billion in capital and $7 billion in research and development in its overall business this year, but has not said how much it is investing in the GM Defense business.
Lockheed is investing $9 billion through 2030 to scale munitions production and upgrade facilities.
Frank St. John, Lockheed's chief operating officer, said it was too early to say what projects it would invest in with GM Defense.
Crosstown rival Ford Motor has said several governments in Europe and North America have discussed with the company how its products can support defense departments.
(Reporting by Kalea Hall; editing by David Gaffen)
