Lockheed Martin Vectis To Have 'F-35 Like Capabilities'

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is developing Vectis, an internally funded Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft intended to operate autonomously or alongside crewed fighters. The tailless, low-observable design is planned for missions including precision strike, intelligence and targeting, electronic warfare and counter-air operations. Lockheed Martin has described the aircraft as offering F-35-like capabilities, a characterization of its intended mission-system sophistication rather than a demonstrated performance equivalence. Five prototypes are planned, with first flight targeted by the end of 2027 as the company positions Vectis for future US and allied requirements.