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WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is launching a new initiative called “AI Fight Club,” a virtual battleground where companies can test their artificial intelligence algorithms for use in military applications.
The program, announced June 3 by John Clark, Lockheed’s senior vice president of technology and strategic innovation, aims to create a digital proving ground for AI systems across air, land, sea, and space operations. Clark revealed the initiative during an AI conference hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project, a nonprofit focused on U.S. competitiveness in advanced technologies.
The initiative comes amid Pentagon efforts to accelerate AI adoption as military competitors, particularly China, invest heavily in autonomous weapons systems and AI-powered warfare capabilities.
AI technology is penetrating every aspect of warfare, Clark said. “That requires us to have a test and evaluation ground so that all of the algorithms, all these new AI inventions that are coming along, that we can test them properly.”
Lockheed originally considered developing the platform to test its own algorithms but decided to expand access to smaller vendors with promising tech but without the infrastructure to meet Pentagon-grade evaluation standards. The idea is to help the Pentagon gain visibility into cutting-edge AI emerging from outside the traditional defense industry.
“There are many small companies that have great ideas and great AI but they don’t have the capital to support the full test environment and the full ecosystem that underpins it,” Clark said. “They can now connect in and tie into our AI Fight Club environment.”
Participants will use government-approved models and simulation tools to demonstrate their AI in complex, high-stakes scenarios that mimic real-world threats — ranging from space-based surveillance to homeland defense and amphibious assault. The company is structuring the platform to Department of Defense standards to ensure results are relevant for national security use.
As Clark described it, “We’re going to be inviting anybody who wants to get their AI up against the government environment with our native test and evaluation setup to determine how well their systems are performing.”
Taking a page from the 1999 film “Fight Club,” Lockheed Martin promises to protect participants’ intellectual property, said Clark. “The intent is that what happens inside of that environment will stay within that environment.” However, teams will have opportunities to publish and present their research and results.
Top performers may find themselves on Lockheed’s radar as potential suppliers. The defense giant, with over $70 billion in annual sales, pushes roughly 60% of that revenue to its supplier base. Clark said the company sees AI Fight Club as a tool for vetting real capabilities — distinguishing between practical tech and what he called “glossy marketing brochures.”
“We’re going to use AI Fight Club as a mechanism to help vet those technologies,” Clark said.
Head-to-head matchups between AI systems will be a central feature. Government representatives are expected to observe and engage with competitors, creating a feedback loop between industry innovators and potential customers.
Over the next three months, Lockheed will finalize the structure of the AI Fight Club based on participation levels. The first competitions are slated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
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