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An articulating structure and flexible skin enables a 40% change in wing area, 73% change in span and 177% change in aspect ratio, says NextGen. Unlike conventional variable-geometry wings, morphing allows area and sweep to be varied independently to optimise the configuration for multiple flight regimes
The tests are part of a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-sponsored demonstration of morphing technology for a hunter-killer UAV combining the loiter endurance of a surveillance platform with the high-speed dash capability of an attack aircraft.
Previously Torrance, California-based NextGen demonstrated its flexible-skin morphing wing using a small low-speed, remotely piloted vehicle called the MFX-1. The second-generation MFX-2 is a twin-jet, 135kg (300lb) UAV than can be switched between remote and autonomous control in flight
Boeing Phantom Works has join ed NextGen as a subcontractor on its MFX-2 UAV, a larger twin jet version of the MFX-1 with improved flexible-skin wing design. Windtunnel tests start in Nov ember. Lockheed's design is based on its unsuccessful "Yellow Bird" folding-wing UAV, with a larger engine and new flight-control system supplied by Athena Technologies.
Originally posted by traderonwallst
Looks like a flying missle!