Unlike other CCA contenders, Lockheed is positioning VECTIS as a high-end, multi-role, survivable stealth drone designed to operate alongside advanced fighters like the F-22, F-35, and Boeing’s future F-47.
VECTIS: Design and Capabilities
VECTIS is a single-engine, low-observable tactical aircraft optimized for survivability. Key design elements include:
Stealth Geometry – A lambda-delta wing with no vertical tails, drastically reducing radar visibility.
Advanced Air Intake – A dorsal-mounted S-duct intake hides the engine’s radar-reflective surfaces.
Infrared & Radar Reduction – A shrouded exhaust nozzle minimizes detection.
Size and Role – Classified as a Group Five UAS, VECTIS is larger than Lockheed’s COMET drones but smaller than an F-16. Estimated length: 20–30 feet.
Operational Flexibility – Designed for dispersed operations under the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy.
Extended Range – Suited for Indo-Pacific, European, and Central Command theaters.
This design ensures VECTIS can fly alongside stealth fighters in contested environments, fulfilling roles beyond traditional support.
Multi-Role Strategy: Lockheed’s Bold Move
Most companies are following the Air Force’s incremental strategy starting with air-to-air drones (Increment 1) and later branching into air-to-ground, ISR, or electronic warfare. Lockheed Martin, however, is skipping straight to multi-role capability.
VECTIS is envisioned for:
●Precision strikes
●Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
●Electronic warfare (EW)
●Offensive and defensive counter-air missions
This approach could force the Pentagon to rethink its roadmap for CCAs, pushing toward a future where drones aren’t limited to specialized tasks but can fight alongside manned aircraft as equals.
A Legacy of Innovation: From D-21 to VECTIS
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has a history of groundbreaking uncrewed aircraft. The 1960s D-21 drone a secret successor to the SR-71 was capable of Mach 3.35 at 95,000 feet, though it was retired in 1971 due to technical and operational hurdles.
Skunk Works founder Kelly Johnson predicted that remotely piloted vehicles would play a larger role in warfare, given their ability to withstand maneuvers and missions manned fighters couldn’t. VECTIS reflects that prophecy, building on decades of experimentation with autonomy, survivability, and stealth.
Survivability, Cost, and Strategy
While VECTIS is likely to cost more than lower-tier CCAs, Lockheed argues its survivability makes it more cost-effective over time. A highly survivable $35M drone with a 90% survival rate could actually prove cheaper per mission than a $20M drone with only a 50% chance of returning.
In simulated Taiwan conflict scenarios, CCAs like VECTIS would act as the lead strike force, absorbing attention from enemy defenses and creating openings for crewed fighters like the F-22 and F-35.
Autonomy and Integration
VECTIS will rely heavily on AI-driven autonomy and Lockheed’s experience in manned-unmanned teaming. Past projects like the X-62 Vista, Have Raider, Project Venom, and Speed Racer have already demonstrated Lockheed’s capability to integrate autonomous systems with frontline aircraft.
In simulations, one F-22 controlled four VECTIS drones, while an F-35 could manage as many as eight. An open mission system software architecture ensures future upgrades won’t be bottlenecked by proprietary restrictions—a lesson learned from the F-35 program.
Conclusion: The Future of Air Combat
Lockheed Martin aims to have VECTIS fly by 2027, pushing the Air Force into a new era of unmanned combat aviation. Where other companies are testing the waters, Lockheed is betting big on a multi-role, survivable, autonomous stealth drone that could change the very definition of airpower.
If successful, VECTIS won’t just be a loyal wingman it could become the drone equivalent of the F-35, shaping the future of allied air dominance worldwide.
