Sacramento, Calif. – After more than 200,000 votes, the California-made X-59 built by Lockheed Martin in Palmdale has been crowned the 2025 “Coolest Thing Made in California.” The annual statewide contest, hosted by the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA), highlights innovation and craftsmanship across the Golden State.
Designed to reduce the sound of a sonic boom to a gentle “thump,” the X-59 is a groundbreaking aerospace innovation paving the way for the future of quiet, faster-than-sound flight. The project represents years of engineering collaboration and cutting-edge design, all taking place at the company’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, CA.
“We’re honored that Californians chose the X-59 as the Coolest Thing Made in California,” said Patrick LeBeau, X-59 Program Manager. “This recognition celebrates the groundbreaking technology and precision engineering behind the X-59, and the incredible dedication of our Palmdale team and partners. We thank CMTA and everyone who voted for helping shine a spotlight on California’s world-class manufacturing.”
Pictured above, Senator Roger Niello presented the award to Lockheed Martin representatives at the event on October 22, 2025 at The Citizen Hotel in Sacramento.
“This year’s winner showcases the best of California manufacturing, with groundbreaking innovation, world-class talent, and an unshakable commitment to pushing boundaries,” said Lance Hastings, CMTA’s President & CEO. “The aerospace industry is a cornerstone of our state’s economy. Companies like Lockheed Martin remind us that the future of flight, and so much more, is being built here in California. This contest celebrates the people and products that keep our state making, creating, and leading.”
CMTA’s annual Coolest Thing Made in California contest celebrates the creativity, skill, and innovation across every sector and region—and the companies driving the state’s $394 billion manufacturing industry. The 2025 contest drew record engagement, with more than 160 nominations and hundreds of thousands of votes cast from across California.
Representatives from CMTA and Lockheed Martin are available for interviews. For inquiries, contact CMTA’s Communications Director, Rebecca Elliott, at relliott@cmta.net.
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About CMTA
The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before the California legislature and administrative agencies since 1918. The total output from manufacturing in California is $300 billion per year, roughly 10 percent of the total economic output of the state. Manufacturers employ 1.3 million Californians paying wages more than $25,000 higher than other non-farm employers in the state.