Lockheed Martin brings stealth to CCA market with Vectis

The nose of Lockheed Martin's Vectis unmanned combat aircraft shown at the Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in September 2026. (Janes/Jeremiah Cushman)

Lockheed Martin showed off its Vectis collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) at the Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in mid-September.

The company is building Vectis using its own funds, Dan Tenney, senior vice-president for global business development and strategy for Lockheed Martin, told Janes on 15 September.

“Part of what we've pivoted to is investing our own resources to show new technology, get capabilities out there. We are in a lot of discussions with the air force, as well as global customers,” he said, adding that the company is proposing Vectis for “multiple competitions”.

New design

The Vectis is a clean-sheet design, with design work starting in March 2025, Brad McCoy, director for customer requirements for collaborative combat aircraft at Lockheed Martin, told Janes during the same interview.

Typically, new aircraft designs are attempting to solve a specific problem set, he said. “This one, we have had all the pieces and parts from other platforms, and it has come together quickly because of that. The digital aspect of it certainly makes it easy for any modifications that we're going to do as well,” McCoy noted.

The aircraft is powered by a Williams FJ44 turbofan engine that enables a combat radius of more than 1,100 miles, he added.

Interoperable

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works team is building five of the aircraft, including the initial prototype, with first flight scheduled for late 2027, Tenney said.