Lockheed unveils Vectis CCA

[Maxmars]

Is it possible that they have achieved "the better design."

I know their press release says many good things...

The proof will be in the pudding.

[Zaphod58]

I wonder if it's what this guy spotted being tested for RS or other
[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77BBA4VR8_Y&t=1155s]

That may actually be a section of fuselage for the “Super F-35” Lockheed is pushing.

[Zaphod58]

Is it possible that they have achieved "the better design."

I know their press release says many good things...

The proof will be in the pudding.

When it comes to stealth, Lockheed has the longest history of working with it, but any of the big three are going to have a good grasp of what works better. I fully expect them to come up with the better SURVIVABLE platform. The question is, is that what the AF will be looking for going forward with CCA.

[sparkgapwizard56]

I think the Air and Naval forces will probably go for running several different models of CCA’s 
you have the cheap mass producible ones for general strike missions that can tag along with the F35, while a high survivable stealth model like the vectis would be perfect to assist F-47 and F-22with air superiority. I haven’t been keeping track of it but I imagine the Navy and Marines will want a CCA to go along with the F35 B/C and FA-XX as well.

I also believe that a CCA force would work wonders assisting a upgraded P-8 in Anti Submarine and Anti Surface operations multiplying its coverage area without intense resource use but that may be something still in the future

[Blackfingers]

I also believe that a CCA force would work wonders assisting a upgraded P-8 in Anti Submarine and Anti Surface operations multiplying its coverage area without intense resource use but that may be something still in the future

Getting all the different platforms to talk to each other and share the same information in real time has always been the sticking point.Getting a Legacy F16 to communicate with anything younger than a Growler or P8 will prove..."challenging"..

[Avicula]

Getting all the different platforms to talk to each other and share the same information in real time has always been the sticking point.Getting a Legacy F16 to communicate with anything younger than a Growler or P8 will prove..."challenging"..

I’m just happy that enabling our stuff to be able to talk to our other stuff is finally being taken into consideration to the point that it’s being built in to our NEW stuff. We can only hope that someone somewhere has been tasked with figuring out how to add that capability to our old stuff.

From tactical (and safety) perspective, it just makes sense. How many times has one army lost its advantage simply because the people in charge at one end the battlefield couldn’t communicate effectively (or at all) with the people in charge at the other end? How many Blue on Blue incidents could have been avoided? Radios annd other comms are great tools when you can actually use them.

[Blackfingers]

Full battlefield,theatre communications has always been the sticking point.Having instant comms between a grunt on the ground being pinned down by a heavy MG and a high flying F35 pilot who can drop a small diameter munition accurately on target in any weather is always the goal.
Or having an Abrams fire a shell and being targetted by a UCAV via a secure laser link from cover to a target 10 miles away so the shell detonates inside a window.