The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., or GA-ASI, have advanced the X-68A air-launched uncrewed aircraft toward flight testing following completion of major ground and subsystem demonstrations.
Table of Contents
What Technical Progress Has the X-68A Achieved?
DARPA said Tuesday the X-68A, developed under the LongShot program, successfully underwent full-scale wind-tunnel testing, including validation of its parachute recovery and weapons-release systems. These tests verified that the X-68A maintains structural stability during captive munition ejection, enabling an autonomous platform to be deployed from crewed combat aircraft while extending operational reach. These efforts reduced technical risk and cleared key requirements needed before integrated flight trials can begin.
What Is the LongShot Program?
The LongShot program is a DARPA initiative that aims to reshape air combat by developing an uncrewed aircraft that can be launched from a larger platform, fly ahead of manned forces, and engage adversaries using its own air-to-air missiles. Designed to operate independently of a specific host aircraft, the system could be deployed from fighters, bombers or palletized configurations on mobility aircraft, extending mission range while reducing risk to pilots.
When Will X-68A Flight Testing Begin?
Current efforts are focused on ground and integration testing, with flight testing expected by late 2026. The demonstration will validate the X-68A’s ability to deploy from an F-15 aircraft, confirming its overall airworthiness in powered flight. The maiden flight test had originally been targeted for December 2023 but was postponed as the team revised its strategy, moving away from a phased glider approach to concentrate on a single fully powered LongShot configuration and transitioning the launch platform to an F-15, Breaking Defense reported.
Related Articles
Kirsten Davies, the Department of War’s chief information officer and a 2026 Wash100 awardee, emphasized a mission-first approach to technology modernization, stating that DOW’s information enterprise must directly support the warfighter and align with the National Defense Strategy, DOW said Tuesday. The DOW CIO’s remarks underscore how senior defense technology leaders are aligning modernization efforts with measurable mission outcomes and direct support to the warfighter. Reserve your seat at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 to connect with government and industry executives driving the next phase of federal digital modernization. “Our mission is to support the National Defense
The Department of Transportation has promoted Devin Ure to deputy assistant secretary for budget and programs. Ure announced the appointment Sunday in a LinkedIn post. “I’m incredibly grateful for my previous role as the Chief Financial Officer for the Office of the Secretary at U.S. Department of Transportation and for the mentors who supported me along the way. I’m looking forward to working with the talented team we have,” said Ure. Who Is Devin Ure? Ure is a career public servant with extensive experience applying analytics-driven strategies to financial management and organizational modernization. He has implemented automation, dashboards and predictive tools to
The Idaho National Laboratory and NVIDIA have partnered to leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear energy systems. As AI adoption continues to expand across government and industry, collaborations like the INL-NVIDIA effort underscore how emerging technologies are being applied to complex national priorities. These developments reflect the broader momentum behind AI-driven modernization efforts across the federal landscape. Save your spot now at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18! INL said Tuesday the partnership supports the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission and focuses on a “grand challenge” known as Prometheus, which aims to bring commercial-scale