Lockheed Martin Expands Vectis Stealth Drone Prototype Fleet

Lockheed Martin announced it will build four additional prototypes of its Vectis stealth drone, increasing the total fleet to five aircraft. The company is internally funding the project to target domestic and international markets, with the first flight expected by the end of 2027. The expansion aims to accelerate testing and validate production processes for the Group 5 multirole platform, which is designed for precision strike, ISR targeting, electronic warfare, and counter-air missions.

The aircraft features a tailless design with a 38-foot wingspan and a submerged engine inlet to reduce drag. To ensure the unit cost remains competitive with the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) target of $20 million per aircraft, the company is using minimal tooling determinate assembly. This method has reduced labor hours by up to 80% in some instances.

While Lockheed Martin was not selected for the first increment of the CCA program, it is competing to provide the autonomy software for those aircraft as the U.S. Air Force finalizes requirements for Increment 2. The company recently showcased a full-scale model of the Vectis at the Air & Space Forces Association conference in National Harbor, Maryland.