Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division announced it will construct four additional prototypes of the Vectis uncrewed combat aircraft, bringing the total number of airframes to five. The company, which is self-funding the development program, stated that the first flight remains on track for the end of 2027. A full-scale model of the aircraft was displayed publicly on Monday at the Air & Space Forces Association conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
What it means
The decision to build four more vehicles follows internal analysis and discussions with potential customers that identified a demand for survivable, autonomous systems capable of precision strike, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance targeting, electronic warfare, and counter-air missions. Lockheed Martin unveiled the Vectis concept in September 2025 and has moved quickly through early development stages, completing an initial digital build in six months and transitioning from first drawings to wind tunnel testing in less than two months.
The Vectis prototype will utilize a Williams International FJ44-4 commercial turbofan engine, which produces more than 3,600 pounds of thrust. Lockheed Martin selected this proven engine specifically to accelerate the development timeline. While the company has not tied Vectis to a specific government competition or announced a customer, contract, or unit price, it is positioning the aircraft for both domestic and international markets.
The move comes as the U.S. Air Force finalizes requirements for Increment 2 of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. Lockheed Martin was not selected for the first increment of the CCA program, which saw contracts awarded to General Atomics and Anduril in June after production clearance. However, Lockheed secured one of six spots in the vendor pool eligible to compete for autonomy software for those Increment 1 aircraft. Col. Timothy Helfrich noted in July that the concept refinement phase for future increments involves nine unnamed vendors and has approximately 10 months remaining, with the possibility of carrying up to six designs into prototyping.
Skunk Works spokesman Shane Nicholson described Vectis as an internally funded effort aimed at addressing urgent capability needs. Ron Fehlen, a Lockheed Martin executive, said domestic and international conversations reinforced the need for such systems. “We’re leaning into that demand, making a strategic investment to accelerate Vectis’ progress and maturity through an additional four vehicles,” Fehlen said.
Key facts
- Lockheed Martin Skunk Works will build four additional Vectis prototypes, totaling five airframes.
- The first flight is expected by the end of 2027.
- The project is fully funded by Lockheed Martin; no external contract or customer has been announced.
- A full-scale model was displayed at the Air & Space Forces Association conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
- The prototype will use a Williams International FJ44-4 engine producing over 3,600 pounds of thrust.
- Lockheed Martin completed an initial digital build in six months and reached wind tunnel testing in under two months.
- Vectis is pitched for precision strike, ISR targeting, electronic warfare, and counter-air missions.
- Lockheed Martin was not selected for CCA Increment 1 but won a spot in the autonomy software vendor pool.
Source: Lockheed Martin news release