Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works will build four additional Vectis aircraft, taking the planned fleet to five and expanding the company-funded collaborative combat aircraft programme before first flight. The extra airframes are already under development, with the move aimed at speeding testing, refining the design and validating production processes ahead of a 2027 debut.
Vectis remains in development rather than service, and no customer contract, order quantity beyond the five aircraft, or unit price has been disclosed. The uncrewed combat aircraft is designed to operate alongside crewed fighters such as the F-35, positioning the project as a deeper internal investment in a stealthy autonomous platform rather than a conventional procurement programme.
Ron Fehlen, vice president and general manager of Skunk Works, tied the expansion to the programme’s push towards manufacturing maturity and faster flight test. The decision comes as Lockheed uses the Air, Space & Cyber Conference in the Washington area to spotlight Vectis, underscoring the company’s intention to advance the design before any external buyer enters the picture.