Lockheed Skunk Works and BAE FalconWorks to co-develop stealthy, expendable EW UAS family

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks have formed a rare research partnership to co-develop a family of stealthy, expendable uncrewed air systems. Initially focused on delivering electronic-warfare effects to support crewed frontline platforms, the “ultra-adaptable” designs are pitched as low-cost and fast to produce.

Discovered 2025-09-09T03:06:26.982094-07:00 | 2025-09-09T03:06:26.982094-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The partnership is a rare prime‑level research tie-up between Skunk Works and FalconWorks, signalling continued investment by major contractors in low‑cost, expendable unmanned systems and collaborative EW roles; see BAE’s broader push into autonomous platforms, including an autonomous submarine programme.

  • The initial electronic‑warfare focus is designed to augment crewed frontline assets, aligning with the Pentagon’s recent moves to centralise and fast‑track counter‑drone and integrated C2 capabilities via an Army‑led task force to fast‑track counter‑sUAS.

  • The effort adds to a global trend toward stealthy, quickly produced UCAV and expendable drone concepts — comparable to recent stealth UCAV production starts and scalable UAS demonstrations such as Baykar’s K31zilelma serial production and BAE’s unmanned‑platform weapons tests (drone‑launched rocket demo).

Reported By

armadainternational.com UK Defence Journal news.defcros.com forcaaerea.com.br c4defence.com homelandprepnews.com
Sources Tracked
53
First Seen
2025-09-09T03:06:26.982094-07:00
Latest Update
2025-09-16T02:47:28.727331-07:00
Coverage
Defense

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