The Army is preparing a revolutionary drone, the X65 – La Nouvelle Tribune

The future of aviation devices is about to take a revolutionary turn with a twist X-65an experimental drone he designed DARPA And Aurora Aeronautical Sciences. This ambitious project, part of the CRANE program (Control revolutionary aircraft with new effects) from DARPA, represents a breakthrough in aircraft control technology. The X-65 lacks external moving control surfaces, instead using jets of compressed air to change the airflow around the aircraft in flight.

As a reminder, DARPA, orDefense Advanced Research Projects AgencyIt is an agency Ministry of Defense The United States is responsible for developing new and advanced technologies for military use.

Founded in 1958 in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the Sputnik satellite, DARPA has played a critical role in many major technological developments, including the Internet, stealth technology, and satellite navigation systems.

Since the beginning of flight, moving surfaces such as rudders, flaps, elevators, and ailerons have been essential to controlling aircraft. However, the X-65 aims to eliminate these elements completely in favor of control based entirely on compressed air jets. This innovation could revolutionize aircraft design, offering a series of improvements in terms of aerodynamics, weight and mechanical complexity. In addition, this technology can improve the stealth properties of aircraft.

To reduce risk, the X-65 prototype will include both conventional control surfaces and so-called active flow control (AFC) actuators. The latter, compared to the “training wheels” of Richard Welesian, head of the CRANE program at DARPA, will be monitored by sensors to evaluate their performance compared to traditional control mechanisms. This approach will provide a better understanding of how AFC will revolutionize military and commercial aircraft design in the future.

NASA and the US Army. Capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 0.7, the X-65 promises to deliver flight test results with immediate relevance to real aircraft design.

The modular design of the X-65 is also a strong point, as it allows the wings and active flow control systems to be replaced, thus offering the possibility of being used for additional testing after the conclusion of the CRANE program. This flexibility heralds a more adaptable and experimental era in aircraft design.

DARPA and Aurora Flight Sciences plan to complete the X-65 as early as 2025, with a maiden flight planned for the summer of that year. This project represents a major milestone in aviation research and development, with the potential to radically change the way aircraft are designed and controlled in the future.