DARPA missile drone moves closer to first flight

BLUF

DARPA’s X-68A LongShot air-launched un-crewed vehicle has completed key testing milestones, advancing toward flight trials that aim to extend air-to-air combat reach while keeping crewed aircraft farther from contested battlespace.

Learning Outcomes: 

1. Future Force Design — Illustrates how modular, air-launched vehicles could alter distributed airpower and contested-environment operations.
2. Air Combat Reach — Explains how air-launched un-crewed systems extend engagement distance and reduce risk to crewed fighters and bombers.