Pentagon developing supersonic shape-shifting assassin

For years, the U.S. military has wanted a plane that could loiter just outside enemy territory for more than a dozen hours and, on command, hurtle toward a target faster than the speed of sound. And then level it. But aircraft that excel at subsonic flight are inefficient at Mach speeds, and vice versa.

The answer is Switchblade, an unmanned, shape-changing plane concept under development by Northrop Grumman. When completed (target date: 2020), it will cruise with its 200-foot-long wing perpendicular to its engines like a normal airplane. But just before the craft breaks the sound barrier, its single wing will swivel around 60 degrees (hence the name) so that one end points forward and the other back.

Sounds like an amazing toy!!

Link

shape shifting is abit of an exageration. All it has are swing wings like the tom cat.

There's a thread in the aircraft section of ATS on the Switchblade - interesting concept i must say....but the development needed for this makes me wonder if it would come to fruition in operational terms.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 26-6-2006 by bmdefiant]

[edit on 26-6-2006 by bmdefiant]

Thats a cool name though.

Follow link: CNN Article on USAF SWITCHBLADE!, to already existing thread.

*closed*