Lockheed Martin announced Thursday that its Aeronautics business area—manufacturer of aircraft like the C-130, F-16, and F-35—will eliminate about 1,500 positions across its enterprise to help improve the affordability of its products and increase operational efficiency. That represents a reduction of slightly more than five percent of its 28,000–strong workforce, which is located at principal sites in California, Georgia, and Texas, and at six smaller locations in as many states. “Bold and responsible action is necessary to meet customer expectations and reduce our costs,” said Ralph Heath, executive vice president of the business unit. The company will offer eligible salaried employees an opportunity for a voluntary layoff to minimize the number of involuntary layoffs, which will begin in mid September. It expects the greatest impact to be on employees in higher level labor grades. Overall, Lockheed employs about 126,000 people worldwide.
The U.S. sent Air Force F-16s over central Syria in a show of force following the Dec. 13 killing of two U.S. Army Soldiers and one American civilian interpreter by a gunman linked to the Islamic State group.
