Vectris: a fight drone coming soon

• Skunk Works has decades of experience leveraging speed, altitude, shape, advanced materials and more
• With Vectis, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is acting on a bold vision
• Development of Vectis is imminent

Lockwood Martin’s ultra secretive Skunk Works on 22 September, introduced Vectis; an autonomous stealth drone designed for multi-mission combat and open market adaptability.  highly capable of executing precision strike, ISR targeting, electronic warfare and offensive and defensive counter air missions.

 Vectis seamlessly integrates with 5th and next-gen aircraft to advance the Family of Systems vision for next-gen air dominance. The drone provides multi-domain connectivity, whether standalone or as part of integrated teaming missions with crewed aircraft like the F-35. It uses   proven Lockheed Martin performance on common control systems like the MDCX™ to ensure compatibility across the command and control spectrum. Endurance ranges will be compatible with Indo-Pacific, European and Central Command theaters.

According to a Lockwood Martin statement, the 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."

Development of Vectis is imminent with parts already 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 war fighter'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.”