The X-45A was the first modern UAV designed specifically for combat strike missions. The stealthy, swept-wing jet has fully retractable landing gear and a composite, fiber-reinforced epoxy skin. Its fuselage houses two internal weapons bays. The X-45 project was first managed by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, but in 2003 the Air Force and Navy consolidated the X-45 and X-47 programs under the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System Office. Created by Eric Long Date Created 11/01/2016 Source Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Keywords Aircraft; Aviation; Engineers; Experimental; Military; Research; Unpiloted Rights and Restrictions Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.