DARPA's New X-Plane Aims to Maneuver with Nothing but Bursts of Air
6 hours ago
- #Stealth Design
- #Military Innovation
- #Aircraft Technology
- DARPA advances CRANE program with Aurora Flight Sciences developing an uncrewed aircraft using active flow control (AFC) instead of traditional moving surfaces for flight control.
- AFC uses bursts of pressurized air to maneuver, potentially enhancing stealth, reducing weight, and increasing efficiency for military and civilian aircraft.
- Phase 2 focuses on detailed design, software, and controls, with a Phase 3 option for a 7,000-pound X-plane prototype targeting flight testing by 2025.
- Aurora's design features a Co-Planar Joined Wing and modular AFC effectors for testing, with wind tunnel tests on a 25% scale model collecting over 14,000 data points.
- Eliminating moving control surfaces could improve aerodynamics, reliability, and stealth by minimizing radar cross-section and reducing maintenance needs.
- CRANE's success could influence future aircraft development, with AFC technology being explored by other companies like BAE Systems through projects like MAGMA.