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First flown in 2002, 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.

This X-45A, named The Elsie May, accomplished several firsts during testing. Among them: the first autonomous flight of a high-performance, combat-capable UAV; the first weapons release from an autonomous UAV; and, with Air Vehicle #2, the first autonomous multi-vehicle coordinated flight. Only two X-45A scaled-down technology demonstrators were built. Flight tests successfully concluded in 2005.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date 2004 Country of Origin United States of America Type CRAFT-Aircraft Physical Description Jet-powered, "stealthy" Combat Aerial Vehicle. Designed specifically for offensive combat operations above the battlefield. One of two technology demonstration aircraft for the Joint Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (later Air System) program. Dimensions 3-D: 957.6 × 203.2cm, 3818.4kg, 10.312m (31 ft. 5 in. × 6 ft. 8 in., 8418lb., 33 ft. 10 in.)
Span: 10.31m (33 ft 8 in)
Length: 8.03m (26 ft 5 in)
Height: 1.13 m (3 ft 7 in)
Weight (empty): 3,629 kg (8,000 lb)
 Materials Aluminum, carbon fiber, steel, copper, plastic, glass, paint, rubber
 Inventory Number A20070231000 Credit Line Transferred from the U.S. Air Force Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use. You may also like Drones in the Desert Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Past Exhibition