Lockheed Martin’s legendary Skunk Works has pulled back the curtain on a project that until now existed only in rumor: the Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Developed entirely with the company’s own funds, Vectis is an autonomous stealth drone designed to operate both independently and alongside advanced jets such as the F-35 Lightning II.
Skunk Works, officially called the Advanced Development Programs, has a history of producing some of the most iconic and secretive aircraft in modern history. From the U-2 Dragon Lady and SR-71 Blackbird to the F-117 Nighthawk and the upcoming X-59, the division has long balanced absolute secrecy with groundbreaking innovation. Vectis now joins that lineage, signaling a shift toward highly adaptable autonomous platforms.
According to Lockheed, the drone falls within the Pentagon’s Group 5 UAV classification, meaning it weighs more than 1,320 pounds and can fly higher than 18,000 feet. While its precise size remains undisclosed, the company notes that it is smaller than an F-16 Fighting Falcon but larger than the Common Multi-Mission Truck missile-like drone, placing it in a middle ground that suggests both flexibility and endurance. Renderings show a craft with a modified delta wing, forward fuselage chines, and engines mounted on top of the body features that underscore stealth as a central design principle. Although Lockheed has not disclosed exact speed or range, the company says the drone is fast enough to accompany F-35s and has the endurance to operate across Indo-Pacific, European, and Central Command theaters, ruling out any short-range limitations.
The company describes Vectis as a multi-mission aircraft capable of precision strikes, intelligence and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and both offensive and defensive counter-air operations. Thanks to its advanced autonomous systems, it can act as a fully independent combat platform or work in tandem with human pilots, extending the reach and survivability of existing fleets.
OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Skunk Works, framed the drone not just as another aircraft but as a transformational step in air power. “Vectis is the culmination of our expertise in complex systems integration, advanced fighter development and autonomy,” he said. “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.”
In a departure from the traditional defense model, Lockheed appears to be positioning Vectis for the broader international market rather than limiting it to exclusive U.S. military contracts. The aircraft uses an open system architecture and common control standards, which the company says will make upgrades easier, keep costs down, and avoid dependency on a single vendor.
Leveraging digital engineering and advanced manufacturing, Lockheed also emphasizes that Vectis was built with affordability in mind, making it a potentially attractive option for allies seeking cutting-edge autonomous capability.