Editing Lockheed Corporation (section)

===Skunk Works===
{{main|Skunk Works}}
[[File:Usaf.u2.750pix.jpg|thumb|The [[Lockheed U-2]], which first flew in 1955, provided intelligence on [[Soviet bloc]] countries.]]
[[File:Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.jpg|thumb|The [[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird]]]]
[[File:Lockheed C-130 Hercules.jpg|thumb|The [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] serves as the primary tactical transport for many military forces worldwide.]]

In 1943, Lockheed began, in secrecy, development of a new jet fighter at its Burbank facility. This fighter, the [[Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star]], became the first American jet fighter to score a kill. It also recorded the first jet-to-jet aerial kill, downing a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15]] in Korea, although by this time the F-80 (as it was redesignated in June 1948) was already considered obsolete.<ref>Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p80_12.html "Lockheed P-80/F-80 Shooting Star."] ''USAF Fighter,'' July 16, 1999. Retrieved: June 11, 2011.</ref>

Starting with the P-80, Lockheed's secret development work was conducted by its Advanced Development Division, more commonly known as the [[Skunk works]]. The name was taken from [[Al Capp]]'s comic strip [[Li'l Abner]]. This organization has become famous and spawned many successful Lockheed designs, including the U-2 (late 1950s), SR-71 Blackbird (1962) and F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter (1978). The Skunk Works often created high-quality designs in a short time and sometimes with limited resources.