Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Wednesday said it has acquired a high-speed wind tunnel from Triumph Group [TGI], allowing it to invest in upgrades and manage the scheduling of the facility, which is used by it and other companies and government agencies.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Lockheed Martin has used the High Speed Wind Tunnel since 1958 and has been the long-time operator of the facility under a lease with Triumph’s Aerostructures division.
“The High Speed Wind Tunnel (HSWT) in Grand Prairie (Texas) is an aerospace engineering treasure, serving as a proving ground for hundreds of flight vehicles designed over the last six decades for everything from space exploration to national defense,” Mike McWithey, HSWT manager, said in a statement. “We made this purchase to ensure that development legacy extends well into the future.”
The HSWT is one of two in the United States that are polysonic—subsonic, transonic and supersonic—and adjustable Mach-number wind tunnels. The facility is used for research and development testing.
Systems that have been developed using the HSWT include the Multiple Launch Rocket System, the Guided MLRS, the Army Tactical Missile System, the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) air defense missile, the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, the A-7 Corsair light attack aircraft, and the Space Shuttle.
Lockheed Martin said that planned improvements to the HSWT include a new air compressor system that will reduce operating costs, an updated data acquisition system, and utility upgrades.