Sports cars and supercars, like those made by McLaren, undergo extensive research and development with regards to aerodynamics. So it’s only fitting that McLaren has announced a partnership with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to assess futuristic design methodology.

The project’s primary goal is to take Skunk Works’ design system, traditionally used for aeronautics and aviation, and apply it instead to automotive design. According to the official release, the software system in question is able to “set the parameters for high-speed systems more accurately and swiftly than traditional design methods.”

So, naturally, a show of force was needed to mark the beginning of this partnership. Parked outside of the Skunk Works headquarters in the California High Desert was a McLaren Artura hybrid supercar and the conceptual Darkstar hypersonic aircraft. If you saw Top Gun: Maverick over the summer, you’ll recognize this plane despite its stealthy matte black appearance.

“McLaren is a pioneering company that has always pushed boundaries and sought out new innovative and disruptive solutions to making the ultimate supercars,” said Darren Goddard, Chief Technical Officer at McLaren Automotive. “Working alongside an iconic company such as Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, renowned for their visionary focus on the future, is a natural fit. We hope this is the start of a longer and deeper collaboration that will benefit our customers in the long-term.”

This collaboration between aeronautical and automotive companies could reap major benefits for the supercar scene, potentially trickling down into the realms of more humble sports cars and even daily drivers. And if it means faster, better cars, we’re all for it!