The agreement between Lockheed Martin and Purdue will focus on hypersonics research and will deepen the long-standing relationship between the two parties.
On January 21, in a virtual event, Purdue University and Lockheed Martin signed a master research agreement (MRA) which will provide the university with over $600,000 in research funding. The money will be used to continue research into hypersonics along with systems engineering, optics, and high temperature materials. The agreement was spearheaded by Purdue alumnus and senior vice president of Lockheed Martin International Tim Cahill and Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue. Lockheed Martin and Purdue have a long history of collaborating on cutting-edge research in hypersonics and other advancements in aviation technology.
The signing of the new agreement took place virtually, with Cahill joining Larry Schuette, director of Global Research and Innovation at Lockheed Martin at the company's headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, and Mayer along with Purdue President Mitch Daniels and David McKinnis of Purdue's Office of Industry Partnerships, linking in from their offices. The MRA will direct the funding towards the research and development of hypersonics, technology that can enable speeds more than five times faster than the speed of sound. The high speeds require advancements in high temperature materials and systems engineering. In a news release from Purdue University, President Daniels spoke of the national importance of the research, "We are grateful for this expanded chance to contribute to our national defense at a moment when, for the first time, America's technological leadership is being seriously challenged, and for the opportunities Lockheed Martin will provide for our faculty and our students during and after their days at Purdue."
Purdue is well suited to carry out this research, as it is already an established contributor in the field of hypersonics with nearly 40 of the world's top researches on staff specializing in navigation, propulsion, and manufacturing. Purdue also possesses one of only two Mach 6 wind tunnels in the U.S. and has a $5.9 million contract with the Air Force to develop the first Mach 8 quiet wind tunnel in the world. Mayer touted the capabilities of the university, "Purdue's research infrastructure is world-class and is being strategically expanded in partnership with the defense sector. The faculty, students, and staff at Purdue are delighted to move forward in this most important partnership with Lockheed Martin." The company has also provided critical input in the design of the Mach 8 project.
Highlighting the strength and longevity of Purdue University's contribution to aeronautics, Cahill thought back to Purdue's impact on his own path, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, "Purdue opened my eyes to the expansive and complex nature of aeronautical engineering and sent me on a course to design and manage a range of defense systems. My education positioned me well for my work as a U.S. Air Force officer and a 25-year career at Lockheed Martin."