Under the watchful eye of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, an extraordinary creation has been taking shape - a remarkable aircraft that emerged as the culmination of groundbreaking innovation.
The new unmanned aerial vehicle, designated X-65 after a long line of iconic experimental aircraft, will ditch all traditional control surfaces that had limited aerodynamics for generations. Instead, it will find control from within.
The X-65 will feature active flow control rather than passive exterior-moving controls and redefine aviation with compressed air nozzles to execute maneuvers, subverting long-held tenets of aviation and aerodynamics. The advances expected from this project seem taken out of a science fiction story. They could usher in a new era of reduced radar cross-sections, increased maneuverability, and unparalleled efficiency in flight. Besides drones, this technology would make fighter aircraft more agile and commercial passenger airliners more environmentally friendly.
As of 2023, an aviation giant has just taken up the task of bringing this outstanding piece of engineering to life.
