Lockheed Martin to build five Vectis combat drones with flight demonstrations due in 2027

Lockheed Martin will self-fund five Vectis autonomous combat aircraft, with flight demonstrations planned for 2027 ahead of anticipated Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 2 requirements. Skunk Works moved from initial drawings to wind-tunnel testing in under two months and released its first production part within eight months. The company is developing Vectis for air-to-air combat and strike, including missions against integrated air and missile defences, while considering interoperability with crewed fighters. International releasability is informing the design, but the investment does not represent an Air Force selection, export approval or customer production order.