Redefining Modeling and Simulation for the Military
Mission readiness has always been the cornerstone of military strength. In an era where operational environments are rapidly evolving, logistics are growing more complex, and global threats demand faster, more precise decision-making, the need for highly capable and responsive training systems has never been greater. Rising operational costs, resource constraints, and the increasing sophistication of multi-domain missions are pushing military organizations to adopt advanced solutions that support a truly “ready-now” force. Ensuring that service members can train, rehearse, and execute missions with confidence is no longer optional—it is a strategic imperative.
This is where Lockheed Martin plays a defining role. With decades of experience supporting the U.S. military and allied defense forces, the company is transforming how modeling and simulation (M&S) technologies are designed, deployed, and scaled for global mission demands. For more than 20 years, Lockheed Martin has partnered closely with military customers to elevate mission preparedness, delivering integrated, secure, and technologically advanced M&S solutions. Today, the company is accelerating that innovation even further, expanding its capability portfolio to meet the evolving challenges of modern warfare.
Lockheed Martin’s latest initiatives mark a comprehensive redefinition of what modeling and simulation can offer—from cutting-edge wargaming systems and turnkey flight training programs to AI-enabled experimentation environments and adaptable simulation engines built for future mission landscapes. The goal is clear: enhance operational readiness by giving warfighters access to realistic, data-driven, and highly scalable training ecosystems.
Below are the key ways Lockheed Martin is reshaping the future of military modeling and simulation.
1. ACES: A Next-Generation Center for Experimentation and Simulation
At the forefront of Lockheed Martin’s M&S innovation is ACES (Advanced Center for Experimentation and Simulation)—a sophisticated wargaming and experimentation system designed to replicate the multi-domain nature of modern conflict. Built using Lockheed Martin’s extensive modeling expertise and grounded firmly in military doctrine, ACES offers commanders and planners a unified environment where they can model, simulate, and analyze the full spectrum of operational scenarios.
ACES functions as a single, integrated platform, making it incredibly versatile. Whether supporting mission planning, advanced training, or operational execution, ACES brings together realistic models of terrain, logistics, threats, system performance, and human decision-making. This allows forces to test concepts, assess strategy, and evaluate potential outcomes with an unprecedented level of fidelity.
The platform’s architecture is intentionally scalable and adaptable, allowing it to grow alongside military needs and integrate seamlessly into existing systems. Optimized for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), ACES enables automated scenario generation, predictive analytics, and adaptive wargaming. These capabilities help users explore future threats, model complex battlespaces, and strengthen decision superiority across air, land, sea, cyber, and space domains.
In short, ACES is not just a tool—it is a strategic asset that strengthens operational insight and mission confidence.
2. Strategic Collaborations with Technology Leaders: Google, NVIDIA, and More
To maintain its leadership in military M&S innovation, Lockheed Martin collaborates with some of the most advanced technology companies in the world. This approach ensures that its military-grade solutions benefit from cutting-edge commercial innovation while maintaining the high security, reliability, and performance standards essential for defense applications.
Key collaborators include:
- NVIDIA
- Epic Games’ Unreal Engine
- Blackshark.ai
- And additional emerging technology partners
These partnerships enable Lockheed Martin to incorporate enhanced visualization, real-time rendering, geospatial AI, cloud-driven infrastructure, and accelerated computing into its systems. By integrating best-in-class commercial technologies with its secure defense ecosystem, the company delivers simulation environments that are not only highly realistic but also future-proof.
The result is modeling and simulation that looks better, runs faster, adapts more intelligently, and provides warfighters with powerful tools that mirror real-world complexity.
3. Transforming Army Aviation Training: U.S. Army’s Flight School Next
Lockheed Martin’s contributions to training extend beyond simulation technology—they also deliver comprehensive turnkey training solutions. One of the most prominent examples is the company’s support for the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next program, an initiative designed to modernize and accelerate the development of future Army aviators.
Leveraging decades of experience as a training systems integrator, Lockheed Martin is uniquely positioned to support the Army’s evolving Warfighter Concept. The company helps take Flight School Next students from novice trainees to mission-ready pilots through a blend of immersive simulation, AI-driven training tools, and data-rich learning environments.
Two flagship technologies support this training transformation:
LM-LIFT™
LM-LIFT is an advanced training ecosystem management tool. It integrates curriculum management, training execution, resource planning, and student performance tracking into a single digital platform.
Key features include:
- Tracking and analyzing training progress
- Gathering real-time student feedback
- Recording performance data for optimization
- Ensuring efficient allocation of personnel and resources
By leveraging data analytics, LM-LIFT ensures training programs are responsive, adaptive, and measurable.
TRAESER™
TRAESER serves as a digital twin of the entire training enterprise. It translates complex training syllabi and throughput requirements into optimized schedules, maintenance plans, and resource strategies.
It enables:
- “What-if” scenario planning
- Rapid scaling of training operations
- Improved utilization of training assets
- Enhanced forecasting of resource needs
Together, these tools elevate the Army’s flight training pipeline by delivering efficiency, adaptability, and measurable readiness at scale.
4. A New Simulation Engine for All Environments
In parallel with its major training and experimentation initiatives, Lockheed Martin has developed a next-generation simulation engine that will underpin all future training solutions. This engine is designed to be compatible with a wide range of training systems currently in the field, enabling more unified, interconnected training networks.
The engine features ultra-realistic environments, modular design, and the capacity to integrate seamlessly with both hardware and software-based training systems. Military customers will get a first look at this new technology during I/ITSEC, the world’s largest modeling and simulation event.
This new core engine aims to become the backbone of Lockheed Martin’s ecosystem, ensuring consistent performance, enhanced realism, and unmatched scalability across all domains and mission types.
5. Training for Humans and AI: The Future of Intelligent Warfare
As AI becomes increasingly central to modern military operations, Lockheed Martin is developing training ecosystems that prepare both humans and AI systems for future conflict.
A major step in this direction is AI Fight Club™, a competitive training environment unveiled earlier this year. Designed as a head-to-head simulation platform, AI Fight Club accelerates the development and operational deployment of artificial intelligence for defense missions.
The platform allows developers and warfighters to:
- Train AI agents in multi-domain environments
- Evaluate AI decision-making
- Conduct rapid, iterative testing
- Ensure compliance with Department of War guidelines
- Strengthen the reliability and safety of autonomous systems
Recently, Lockheed Martin demonstrated the power of this approach by combining its new simulation engine with other in-house technologies to conduct a cross-country networked exercise using synthetic Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). This event created a high-fidelity, low-cost, fully virtual testbed for training and validating AI and autonomy models—without the need to launch a physical drone.
The benefits are significant:
- Reduced live flight test requirements
- Lower operational costs
- Faster development cycles
- More rapid iteration and experimentation
- Better resource allocation for critical missions
This breakthrough supports the military’s shift toward smarter, safer, and more efficient AI integration across platforms.
From advanced wargaming systems and AI-enhanced training ecosystems to multi-domain simulation engines and collaborative technology development, Lockheed Martin is redefining what military modeling and simulation can achieve. By prioritizing mission readiness, embracing cutting-edge innovation, and working closely with global defense partners, the company is shaping the future of military preparedness—ensuring that armed forces remain agile, informed, and ready for the challenges ahead.
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