As defense spending looks up in the U.S. and abroad , some defense firms are betting on “self-funded” prototypes. And while it’s not a new practice, there seems to be renewed emphasis with new-to-defense companies and some primes looking to preempt threats and programs of record.

Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet said the company is reaching the crescendo phase of a five-year shift in its research and development strategy that focuses more on corporate-level initiatives, such as the development of autonomous Black Hawks and space-based interceptors that could be used for the Trump administration’s proposed Golden Dome initiative.

“We are building prototypes, full up operational prototypes. Not things in labs, not stuff on test stands. Things that will go into space or in the air or f

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