Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® has unveiled Lockheed Martin Vectis, a next-generation Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) designed to enhance U.S. and allied air dominance. Vectis is a stealthy, survivable, and highly customizable drone platform capable of executing a wide range of missions, including precision strike, ISR, electronic warfare, and counter-air operations. Seamlessly integrated with 5th and next-generation aircraft, such as the F-35, Vectis supports multi-domain operations with an extended range, making it suitable for Indo-Pacific and European theaters. Leveraging advanced manufacturing, open systems architecture, and digital engineering, Lockheed Martin aims to deliver a high-end capability at CCA-level affordability, with plans to design, build, and fly within two years. They write:
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT) introduces Lockheed Martin Vectis, a Group 5 survivable and lethal collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to advance unparalleled air dominance for American and allied militaries.
This system embodies the company’s pedigree in fighter aircraft, autonomous systems and open mission architectures. As the future of air power takes shape, Skunk Works is charting a critical path with Lockheed Martin Vectis to unlock new, integrated capabilities at an ultra-competitive speed and price point.
“Lockheed Martin Vectis is the culmination of our expertise in complex systems integration, advanced fighter development and autonomy,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “We’re not simply building a new platform – we’re creating a new paradigm for air power based on a highly capable, customizable and affordable agile drone framework.”
What You Need to Know About Lockheed Martin Vectis
Integration:
- Seamlessly integrates with 5th and next-gen aircraft to advance the Family of Systems vision for next-gen air dominance.
- Proven Lockheed Martin performance on common control systems like the MDCX™ ensure compatibility across the command and control spectrum.
Mission Flexibility:
- Capable of executing precision strike, ISR targeting, electronic warfare and offensive and defensive counter air missions.
- Provides multi-domain connectivity, whether standalone or as part of integrated teaming missions with crewed aircraft like the F-35.
- Extended Range: Endurance ranges compatible with Indo-Pacific, European and Central Command theaters.
How We’re Making It:
- Stealth: Leverages decades of experience in stealth advancement to deliver best in CCA class survivability.
- Affordable: Applies advanced manufacturing and digital engineering techniques learned from next-gen aircraft development to drive affordability and speed. Vectis will be offered at a CCA price point.
- Open Systems: Built to avoid vendor lock by aligning to Government Reference Architectures.
Lockheed Martin Vectis’ development is underway. Parts are ordered and a team is executing. Skunk Works is investing the funds and manpower necessary to build and test survivable systems to meet customers’ evolving needs while broadening alignment with new tri-service architectures and global requirements as they are defined.
Skunk Works has decades of experience leveraging speed, altitude, shape, advanced materials and more to keep crewed and uncrewed platforms safe in the most challenging environments to solve the warfighter’s hardest problems. All of this pioneering work is reflected in Vectis, which delivers class-leading survivability in an agile, multi-role package.
With Lockheed Martin Vectis, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is acting on a bold vision to deliver high-end survivability and mission systems capability at aggressive cost targets and design, build and fly within two years.
Read more here.
