Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works introduced Vectis, a Group‑5 stealthy fighter‑escort collaborative combat aircraft derived from its sixth‑generation fighter work. Skunk Works says Vectis prioritizes survivability, affordability and multirole flexibility and is targeting a first flight within two years, while not ruling out the USAF CCA competition.
Discovered |
Briefing
Vectis positions Lockheed to contend in the USAF’s emerging Collaborative Combat Aircraft market and explicitly draws on its sixth‑generation fighter work — see Lockheed’s very active talks with the DoD to incorporate sixth‑generation tech.
The programme’s near‑term timeline (company targets a first flight within two years, ~2027) signals rapid prototyping that could influence USAF CCA procurement pacing and competitor development, similar to other fast‑tracked autonomous efforts such as Atropos’s Tacit Spear targeting USAF delivery by 2028.
Vectis underscores the accelerating shift to crewed–uncrewed teaming and export opportunities for survivable combat UAS, aligning with industry moves where US firms pitch autonomous combat aircraft to Europe and navies prepare to field jet‑powered carrier‑launched uncrewed aircraft.
Reported By
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Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Collaborative Combat Drone • wonderfulengineering.com
Lockheed’s Vectis Stealth Drone Has a Message for the U.S. Military • nationalsecurityjournal.org
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works unveils work on Vectis CCA • euro-sd.com
(FR) Lockheed Martin unveils its 'loyal wingman', the Vectis • aerospatium.info
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works unveils Vectis Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft • Aerospace Manufacturing
(FR) Skunk Works reveals the stealth combat drone Vectis • aerobuzz.fr
Lockheed Martin Debuts Vectis Group‑5 Combat Drone for U.S. and Allied Forces • defensemirror.com
(TR) Lockheed Martin unveils next-generation fighter Vectis | SavunmaSanayiST • savunmasanayist.com
Lockheed Martin Introduces New Uncrewed Stealth Combat Aircraft "Vectis" • news.ssbcrack.com
(PT) Lockheed announces combat drone integrated with fifth‑generation fighters • aeromagazine.uol.com.br
Lockheed Skunk Works Unveils 'Vectis' Group‑5 Stealth Collaborative Combat Aircraft to Team with F‑22 and F‑35 • nationalsecurityjournal.org
(FR) Lockheed Martin unveils Vectis, its stealth collaborative combat drone currently in development • Le Journal de l’Aviation
Lockheed Skunk Works unveils Vectis — customizable stealth CCA for extended‑range precision strikes • aerospaceglobalnews.com
Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Stealth Drone for Future Air Combat • realcleardefense.com
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works unveils Vectis collaborative combat aircraft concept • worldairnews.co.za
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Vectis™: Agile, Affordable Drone Framework with Best‑in‑Class Survivability • armadainternational.com
(TR) Lockheed Martin's Future Fighter Jet Vectis - C4Defence • c4defence.com
(ES) Lockheed Martin is working on a new stealth drone called Vectis. • galaxiamilitar.es
(TR) NEXT-GENERATION COMBAT POWER: VECTIS • airkule.com
(FR) Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works unveils the Vectis drone • air-cosmos.com
Lockheed Martin Is Betting on New F-35 Drone Tech for Future Flights • Wall Street Journal
(ES) Lockheed Martin unveils Vectis, its new collaborative air-combat system • actualidadaeroespacial.com
(TR) Lockheed to Fly Affordable 'Vectis' UAV in 2027 • haber.aero
Lockheed Developing F-35 'Loyal Wingman' Capability to Let Pilots Control Drones • Wall Street Journal
Lockheed Martin unveils Vectis stealthy autonomous drone for precision strike, ISR, EW and counter‑air missions • interestingengineering.com
Lockheed Skunk Works unveils ‘Vectis’ fighter-escort drone; flight expected within two years • Air & Space Forces Mag
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works unveils Vectis Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft focusing on survivability • english.defensearabia.com
Lockheed Martin Unveils Vectis™ Group 5 Survivable and Lethal Collaborative Combat Aircraft • investors.lockheedmartin.com
The War Zone
• Joseph Trevithick