In a series of increasingly direct memos, Lockheed Martin has made one thing clear: CMMC compliance is no longer optional for suppliers in the defense industrial base. With the release of its sixth CMMC-related memo in just 18 months, Lockheed is raising the bar for cybersecurity readiness. While CMMC is not fully rolled out, major primes are readying themselves and their suppliers for fully implemented cybersecurity standards, and you should be too.

‍CMMC Compliance Is Now Non-Negotiable

Lockheed Martin’s statement that “By now, all DIB companies managing CUI should have fully implemented—and be confidently meeting—NIST SP 800-171 (r2) requirements” underscores that CMMC is no longer a suggestion but an expectation. Even before CMMC becomes a contractual requirement, Lockheed and other major primes are treating compliance as a prerequisite for doing business in the defense supply chain. These primes are looking ahead along their contract timelines to identify cybersecurity risks, making it imperative for suppliers to act now rather than scramble later.

Primes Are Taking Enforcement into Their Own Hands

Lockheed’s decision to audit suppliers with unmet cyber controls marks a pivotal shift. Rather than waiting for the DoD or C3PAOs to enforce standards, primes are proactively evaluating their supply base. This includes:

• Conducting their own cybersecurity audits of suppliers
• Demanding documented evidence of implemented controls
• Flagging suppliers with identified gaps

This approach places new pressure on subcontractors and lower-tier vendors to demonstrate real readiness—not just self-attested compliance. Primes like Lockheed Martin recognize that any weaknesses in their supply chain could jeopardize their own major contracts, so they’re ensuring they have time to mitigate risks and replace noncompliant suppliers before it becomes a crisis.

Why Primes are Mandating CMMC Early

CMMC is expected to appear in all DoD contracts by the end of 2025, but major primes aren’t waiting. They’re requiring their suppliers to be ready—and in many cases audited—well before the deadline.

The reason is simple: primes see their supply chain as one of the biggest risks to future contracts. In defense, where relationships often span decades on critical military programs, primes can’t afford to be caught off guard by a noncompliant vendor. They’d rather sever ties with a risky supplier now than face contract penalties, delays, or disqualification later. By proactively enforcing CMMC readiness, primes reduce their liability and protect their ability to deliver on current and future DoD commitments.

Noncompliance is no longer just a delay—it’s a dealbreaker. Lockheed Martin and other major primes have made it clear: suppliers who cannot demonstrate full cybersecurity readiness will be flagged, audited, and, if necessary, replaced. This triggers a chain reaction. When a prime discovers a vendor isn’t compliant, they’re forced to urgently replace them to keep critical DoD programs on track.

This means two things: