Orlando Sanchez

Orlando “OJ” Sanchez is president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, overseeing its aircraft and advanced development portfolio, including Skunk Works. He previously led Skunk Works and served as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, with more than 2,100 flight hours.

Lockheed Says One F-35 Could Control Eight Autonomous Vectis Aircraft

Lockheed Martin is investing in its autonomous Vectis aircraft before the Pentagon sets formal requirements, Aeronautics President OJ Sanchez says, betting that future air power will pair crewed fighters with drones rather than replace them. He says Lockheed has demonstrated that one F-35 could control as many as eight Vectis aircraft, extending the fighter’s reach and ability to act across missions.

Bloomberg TechnologyOct 2, 20263 min read