Naomi Cooper
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing subsidiary, to commence the development of a full-scale aircraft that uses active flow control for flight control.
Aurora will build and demonstrate the X-65 aircraft under the third phase of the Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors program, DARPA said Wednesday.
“The X-65 is a technology demonstrator, and it’s distinctive, diamond-like wing shape is designed to help us maximize what we can learn about AFC in full-scale, real-world tests,” said Richard Wlezien, program manager for CRANE at DARPA.
The experimental aircraft features two sets of control actuators: AFC effectors embedded across all flying surfaces and traditional flaps and rudders.
In 2020, Aurora secured a Phase 0 contract to develop a conceptual AFC design under the CRANE program.
The company received a potential $42.2 million contract to move forward with the second and third phases of the program in December 2022.
