Lockheed Martin Bets on Drone Future With ‘Vectis’ Trademark
Sep/23/2025
On September 11, Lockheed Martin registered a new U.S. trademark, Lockheed Martin Vectis, covering unmanned aerial vehicles, related systems, and their maintenance—an initiative linked to efforts to let F-35 pilots command drones in flight. The move highlights how America’s largest defense contractor, long reliant on its aeronautics segment, is pushing deeper into autonomous warfare even as questions mount over whether drones represent a lasting boom or an overinflated bubble. Despite nearly $60 billion in annual arms sales and $49.4 billion in U.S. government contracts in 2023, the company is navigating headwinds: a $1.7 billion hit from program write-offs, quarterly profits plunging to $342 million, and shares tumbling almost 9%. Lockheed is betting that Vectis, and the broader integration of drones with manned aircraft, will anchor future growth in a defense industry where competition from Boeing, RTX, and General Dynamics remains fierce.
