Skunk Works Aims Vectis CCA at International Market

While the U.S. Air Force’s Increment 1 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program is now defined and in evaluation with two competing types (General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A), Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is forging ahead with a larger and more sophisticated CCA that could end up informing the definition of requirements for Increment 2 while also meeting the CCA needs of international partners.

Known as Vectis, the CCA was developed with internal funding, initially with the international market in mind. Lockheed Martin has chosen this route rather than wait for Increment 2 to be defined, although the U.S. is following the program closely. The design adheres to the U.S. reference architecture for autonomy and mission systems to ensure its compatibility with future USAF requirements.

Lockheed Martin holds licenses to work with 15 approved nations, many of which have shown considerable interest, with at least two strongly interested. Industrial participation is on the table, particularly with nations that have expertise in advanced manufacturing and composites.

Drawing on the Skunk Works’ long experience of advanced projects and uncrewed air vehicles, Vectis has been designed to occupy the upper end of the autonomous collaborative platform spectrum and is intended to be a fully survivable CCA. The target cost is around $20 million. It features a Williams turbofan and has an mtow of 12,500 pounds. It features a high subsonic design with a top speed of Mach 0.8/0.85. Range is greater than 1,000nm with an endurance of at least two hours.

Slightly smaller than an F-16, low-observable Vectis features a lambda wing planform and a wide, flattened fuselage that can accommodate large payloads internally. These can include air-to-air weapons (up to three AIM-120 AMRAAMs), air-to-ground weapons such as the SDB, and ISR payloads. Combinations of these can also be carried.

With elements of the design having been tested and validated on other platforms—including some classified projects—the program is progressing at pace. The first vehicle is already in build at the Skunk Works in Palmdale, California, and a first flight is planned for 2027.

Thanks to systems testing on other platforms and the use of digital design technology, the first vehicle will fly in a production-representative configuration. Early flight trials are primarily aimed at validating computer predictions, rather than more traditional test flights, which enables an aggressive fielding schedule. This could see initial operating capability achieved in 2029, with full operational clearance in the early 2030s.