Lockheed Martin Vectis™: Best in CCA Class Survivability

Rhea-AI Summary

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has unveiled Vectis, a Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) developed by its Skunk Works® division. The advanced military drone system integrates with 5th and next-generation aircraft, offering multi-mission capabilities including precision strike, ISR targeting, and electronic warfare.

Key features of Vectis include best-in-class survivability, compatibility with common control systems like MDCX™, and endurance ranges suitable for Indo-Pacific, European, and Central Command theaters. The system is designed with open architecture to avoid vendor lock and emphasizes affordability through advanced manufacturing and digital engineering techniques.

Lockheed Martin has already initiated development, with parts ordered and a team executing the project, aiming to design, build, and fly within two years.

Positive

• Advanced stealth capabilities offering best-in-class survivability
• Multi-mission flexibility including precision strike and electronic warfare capabilities
• Integration with existing 5th generation aircraft systems
• Designed for affordability with competitive CCA price point
• Rapid development timeline targeting two-year completion

Negative

• None.

Insights

Defense Technology Analyst

Lockheed Martin's new Vectis drone strengthens its defense portfolio with advanced collaborative combat capabilities targeting crucial military needs.

Lockheed Martin's introduction of the Vectis collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) represents a significant advancement in the company's autonomous systems portfolio. This Group 5 drone system - the largest and most capable unmanned aerial vehicle classification - leverages Lockheed's extensive experience in stealth technology and fighter aircraft development.

The Vectis platform is strategically positioned to address evolving defense priorities across multiple theaters, with endurance ranges compatible with Indo-Pacific, European and Central Command requirements. This geographical flexibility is particularly valuable as the Pentagon continues rebalancing military assets toward potential conflict zones in Asia.

What makes Vectis especially compelling is its integration capabilities with existing platforms like the F-35, creating a force multiplier effect through collaborative teaming operations. This aligns perfectly with the Department of Defense's vision for distributed, networked warfare concepts. The platform's mission flexibility spans precision strike, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance), electronic warfare, and counter-air missions - essentially covering the full spectrum of modern aerial combat requirements.

Most notably, Lockheed is emphasizing affordability and rapid development, with plans to design, build and fly the system within two years. The company has already begun ordering parts and assembling teams, indicating serious resource commitment. By applying manufacturing techniques from their next-generation aircraft development programs, Lockheed aims to deliver Vectis at a competitive "CCA price point" while maintaining their hallmark survivability advantages.

The open systems architecture approach is particularly forward-thinking, as it aligns with the military's push away from proprietary systems toward more flexible, adaptable platforms that can evolve with emerging threats and technologies.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Sept. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin Skunk Works^® (NYSE: LMT) introduces Vectis, a Group 5 survivable and lethal collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to advance unparalleled air dominance for American and allied militaries.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works' Vectis: highly capable, customizable and affordable agile drone framework.

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 Vectis to unlock new, integrated capabilities at an ultra-competitive speed and price point. 

"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 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.

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 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.

About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security^® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

FAQ

What is Lockheed Martin's Vectis CCA and what are its key capabilities?

Vectis is a Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft that offers precision strike, ISR targeting, electronic warfare, and counter air missions capabilities. It features best-in-class survivability and integrates with 5th and next-gen aircraft.

How does Lockheed Martin's Vectis integrate with existing military aircraft?

Vectis seamlessly integrates with 5th and next-gen aircraft through common control systems like MDCX™, supporting both standalone operations and integrated teaming missions with crewed aircraft like the F-35.

What is the development timeline for Lockheed Martin's Vectis program?

Lockheed Martin aims to design, build, and fly Vectis within two years. Development is already underway with parts ordered and a team executing the project.

How is Lockheed Martin addressing affordability in the Vectis program?

Lockheed Martin is using advanced manufacturing and digital engineering techniques learned from next-gen aircraft development to ensure affordability, offering Vectis at a competitive CCA price point.

What operational range does Lockheed Martin's Vectis offer?

Vectis features endurance ranges compatible with Indo-Pacific, European, and Central Command theaters, making it suitable for diverse operational requirements.