Lockheed Martin debuts Vectis combat drone at ADEX 2025

Lockheed Martin has introduced its newest unmanned aerial system, Vectis, at the 2025 ADEX defense exhibition in South Korea.

Developed by the company’s Skunk Works advanced projects division, the Vectis platform is intended to operate as part of a Family of Systems alongside fifth-generation aircraft, including the F-35.

According to the company, the new drone has been engineered for full integration with existing manned fighter platforms. It supports a broad range of mission sets, including strike operations, intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, and defense suppression.

Lockheed Martin says the Vectis system is controlled by the MDCX mission management software, which connects the drone into a larger joint command-and-control network.

Vectis—Latin for “lever”—is intended to provide multi-domain interoperability and range flexibility. Lockheed Martin says it is designed for sustained missions across various operating environments, including the Indo-Pacific theater. The company plans to complete development, testing, and production by 2028.

Lockheed Martin emphasized that Vectis is engineered with low observable features and modular mission capability. The airframe is optimized for endurance, range, and maneuverability, enabling it to serve both front-line and support roles depending on mission needs.

The Vectis is part of a broader shift toward collaborative combat aircraft programs across Western militaries. These systems are intended to serve as force multipliers by working in tandem with piloted aircraft in contested environments. U.S. Air Force officials have previously referred to similar systems under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, which is also being developed by major defense contractors including Lockheed Martin.