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Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.\u2019s secretive Skunk Works division has revealed a new Vectis drone. (Courtesy image | Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.)<\/p>\nFort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. plans to produce nearly 300 more F-35 Lightning II fighter jets for the U.S. military.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 29, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics was awarded contracts worth about $24.3 billion for 294 F-35 aircraft to be used by all military branches and foreign allies. The defense contracts call for deliveries to begin in 2026 with most of the assembly work slated to occur in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe F-35 Lot 18-19 contract represents continued confidence in the most affordable and capable fighter aircraft in production today,\u201d Chauncey McIntosh, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the F-35 Lightning II program, said in a statement. \u201cWe are proud to support our customers and further solidify the F-35\u2019s role in enabling peace through strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, company officials are evaluating whether the federal government shutdown is impacting Lockheed operations in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n
The company said it is working with U.S. government customers to assess the impact on employees, programs, suppliers and business, while supporting essential, mission-critical programs and mitigating the impact to operations.<\/p>\n
The new F-35 contracts come as Lockheed Martin companies are developing new drones.<\/p>\n
New stealth drone<\/p>\n
A new stealth drone developed by Lockheed Martin\u2019s secretive Skunk Works division could fly in late 2027.<\/p>\n
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.\u2019s secretive Skunk Works division has revealed a new Vectis drone. (Courtesy image | Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.)<\/p>\n
Officials discussed the reusable Vectis autonomous drone at the Air Force Association\u2019s 2025 Air, Space & Cyber Conference held in Bethesda, Maryland, in late September, Breaking Defense reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cPrototype parts are ordered; the team is in work; and we intend to fly in the next two years.\u201d OJ Sanchez, Skunk Works\u2019s vice president and general manager, told reporters.<\/p>\n The Vectis drone \u2014 which is in the prototype phase \u2014 was developed by Skunk Works based on customer feedback about future battlefield conditions, Sanchez said. He did not reveal how fast the drone would fly or other aspects of its design.<\/p>\n The drone, customizable to match threats, could be paired with Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-22 or F-35 fighter jets, the latter of which is assembled at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.<\/p>\n \u201cThat flexibility has been demonstrated through multiple demonstrations,\u201d Sanchez said at the conference. \u201cNow we\u2019ll go out and build it, and we\u2019ll work to prove (it) in the open air.\u201d<\/p>\n More drones unveiled<\/p>\n Another Lockheed Martin company also is exploring the use of drones.<\/p>\n Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Connecticut, unveiled a converted, unmanned Black Hawk helicopter called a U-Hawk at the Association of the U.S. Army\u2019s conference in Washington, D.C., this week.<\/p>\n The aircraft has a larger cargo space to carry missiles or launch swarms of reconnaissance or strike drones.<\/p>\n \u201cWe developed this prototype from concept to reality in under a year, and the modifications made to transform this crewed Black Hawk into a multi-mission payload UAS (unmanned aerial system) can be replicated at scale quickly and affordably,\u201d Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager, said in a statement.<\/p>\n Sikorsky\u2019s U-Hawk complements its Nomad family of autonomous drones with vertical take-off and landing capabilities that are scaled at different sizes.<\/p>\n Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Sikorsky-Nomad-Family-of-Systems-hires.jpg\")
Sikorsky\u2019s Nomad family of drones can be scaled in size for a variety of sea- and land-based missions. (Courtesy image | Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company)<\/p>\n
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