Lockheed Could Close Part of Research Center

Lockheed Corp. says it is considering whether to close part of its research facility in Rye Canyon unless it can find partners to help finance the center’s costs.

The 511-acre center has excess capacity because Lockheed is getting fewer research contracts for aerospace development and because Lockheed has been shifting much of its aerospace work to Georgia from Southern California.

During the 1970s and early 1980s, the center employed as many as 1,000 people, but its employment has since dwindled to 134. The center is equipped with several wind tunnels, supercomputers and cockpit simulators used for aerospace research.

Lockheed spokesman James Ragsdale said the company has contacted about 40 companies to see if they are interested in joining Lockheed at the 32-year-old center, but that no deals have yet been struck.