Vectis: US firm's stealthy autonomous drone to conduct precision strike

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division has announced the development of Vectis, a stealthy, autonomous, and lethal collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) designed to enhance air dominance for the US and allied militaries. Scheduled for its first flight in 2027, Vectis is a large, reusable Category 5 drone with customizable capabilities to adapt to evolving threat environments. It will perform precision strikes, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and both offensive and defensive counter-air missions. The drone is engineered for extended range operations across multiple theaters, including the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and Central Command areas, and is intended to operate both independently and in integrated teams with crewed aircraft like the F-35. Vectis embodies Lockheed Martin’s expertise in fighter development, autonomous systems, and open mission architectures, aiming to deliver a highly survivable, multi-role platform at an aggressive cost and rapid development timeline. The drone will seamlessly integrate with fifth-generation and next-generation aircraft,