DARPA has confirmed that its LongShot air-launched uninhabited vehicle has been designated the X-68A, as the programme moves closer to flight testing following a series of technical milestones, the agency stated.
According to DARPA, the LongShot programme, led in industry by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, has completed full-scale wind tunnel testing as well as successful trials of the vehicle’s parachute recovery system and weapons-release system.
The programme is intended to develop an uninhabited aircraft that can be launched from a larger aircraft, fly ahead of crewed platforms, and engage targets using its own air-to-air missiles. DARPA said the concept is designed to increase air combat reach and allow crewed aircraft to remain further from contested areas.
DARPA also stated that LongShot is intended to be host-platform agnostic, with the potential for an operational variant to be integrated onto fighters, bombers, or employed as a palletised munition from mobility aircraft.
Colonel John Casey, DARPA LongShot programme manager, said: “LongShot burns down significant technical risk and presents a viable path for the military services to increase air combat reach and effectiveness from uninhabited, air-launched platforms.”
He added: “With the help of our partners, we’ve completed critical milestones necessary for the integrated flight test campaign, which will validate vehicle performance and lay the foundation for efficient follow-on development.”
The programme is supported by a range of U.S. government stakeholders, including the U.S. Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, NASA, and several U.S. Army research and test organisations.
With ground and integration testing currently underway, the programme is building toward a flight test campaign as early as the end of 2026. The agency stated that the tests will validate employment of the X-68A from an F-15 and demonstrate safe release of a captive sub-munition.
“Uninhabited Vehicle” lol, That’s a new one, what about a Lifeless Vehicle or Guilt free Vehicle ?
Maybe they are planning on renting it out as a bedsit to pay for storage.
Ahhh, “Air BnB” then.
A cruise missile that launches air to air missiles -> cool!
Surely there’s a better way of improving missile range, unless these have significant loiter time?