Defense contractor Lockheed Martin spent $3.2 million on second-quarter government lobbying

Lockheed Martin spent $3.2M on 2Q lobbying

WASHINGTON — Defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. spent $3.2 million lobbying in Washington during the second quarter, focusing its efforts on military spending legislation that affects sales of its jet fighters, warships and missiles.

Lockheed spent slightly less than the $3.3 million it devoted to lobbying in the same quarter of 2009, according to a disclosure filed July 19 with the House clerk’s office. It was also below the $3.46 million it spent in the 2010 first quarter.

The nation’s largest defense company, Lockheed devoted most of its lobbying to Pentagon spending programs. That included contact with the Defense Department and Congress over issues such as cybersecurity, shipbuilding, aircraft and legislation affecting overseas trade in weapons.

The defense industry faces uncertainty over the direction of Pentagon weapons spending. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has taken steps to tighten budgets and hold contractors more accountable for cost overruns.

The military is also buying more high tech tools that can be used to fight shadowy insurgents, forcing companies to adjust from their traditional reliance on building big weapons meant for conventional wars.

Lockheed also lobbied on clean energy legislation, bills related to pensions, and matters dealing with corporate governance during the April to June period.