What makes the X-65 different from a conventional aircraft?

The X-65 has no traditional movable control surfaces such as ailerons, rudders, or elevators. Instead, it uses Active Flow Control (AFC) — tiny air jets embedded in the wing surface — to control pitch, roll, and yaw. This simplifies the mechanical structure and reduces radar cross-section for improved stealth.

When is the X-65 expected to fly for the first time?

DARPA and Aurora Flight Sciences are targeting the X-65's first flight before the end of 2026, following the completion of wing-to-fuselage integration and a series of ground system verification tests at Aurora's Virginia facility.

What is the CRANE program?

CRANE stands for Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors. It is a DARPA-led program aimed at demonstrating Active Flow Control as a viable replacement for conventional mechanical control surfaces, with potential applications in future military drones and fighter aircraft.

X-65 Aileron-Free Experimental Aircraft Edges Closer to First Flight

Aurora Flight Sciences has announced that the X-65 delta wing has arrived at its Virginia assembly facility, where wing-to-fuselage integration is now underway. Developed under DARPA's CRANE program, the X-65 replaces conventional control surfaces with Active Flow Control (AFC) technology. DARPA and Aurora are targeting a first flight before the end of 2026.

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Highlights

Aurora Flight Sciences has delivered the X-65 delta wing to its Virginia assembly facility, where wing-to-fuselage integration is now underway.

DARPA and Aurora are targeting the X-65's first flight before the end of 2026, pending successful completion of all ground verification tests.

The X-65 eliminates all conventional control surfaces — ailerons, rudders, and elevators — replacing them with Active Flow Control (AFC) technology that uses precision air jets embedded in the wing.

Removing movable control surfaces reduces the aircraft's radar cross-section (RCS), enhancing stealth performance for potential military applications.

The X-65 is the primary demonstrator for DARPA's CRANE (Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors) program.

X-65 Aileron-Free Experimental Aircraft Edges Closer to First Flight

Aurora Flight Sciences has announced that the delta wing for its revolutionary X-65 experimental aircraft has successfully arrived at the company's assembly facility in Virginia, where wing-to-fuselage integration work is now actively underway. With this major milestone reached, DARPA and Aurora have set their sights on completing the aircraft's first flight before the end of 2026.

A Breakthrough Design That Replaces Control Surfaces with Airflow

The X-65 is the centerpiece of DARPA's Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program. The aircraft's most radical innovation is the complete elimination of conventional movable control surfaces — such as ailerons, rudders, and elevators — in favor of Active Flow Control (AFC) technology to maneuver the aircraft.

AFC works by precisely directing jets of air through tiny ports embedded in the wing surface, altering the aerodynamic properties of the airflow around the wing. This allows the aircraft to control pitch, roll, and yaw without any mechanical moving surfaces whatsoever.

Simpler Structure, Enhanced Stealth

Removing movable control surfaces not only dramatically simplifies the mechanical structure and reduces maintenance costs, but also carries significant military implications: eliminating protrusions from the airframe substantially reduces the aircraft's radar cross-section (RCS), improving its stealth performance. This makes the technology highly attractive for the design of next-generation military drones and fighter aircraft.

Next Steps: Ground Testing and Countdown to First Flight

The X-65 is currently undergoing airframe integration at the assembly facility, after which a series of ground system tests will be conducted. DARPA and Aurora Flight Sciences plan to complete all ground verification work before achieving the aircraft's maiden flight before the end of 2026 — at which point the viability of Active Flow Control technology in a real-world flight environment will be formally demonstrated.

Should the tests prove successful, AFC technology could become a foundational element of next-generation aircraft design, marking a new chapter in aviation history.

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