From The Archives: Lockheed’s Polecat 20 Years Ago In Aviation Week

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works unveiled its 90-ft.-wingspan Polecat uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) demonstrator at the 2006 Farnborough air show. 

Designed to explore the aerodynamic characteristics of a tailless flying wing design at higher altitudes than attempted to up to that time, Polecat was intended to possibly feed technologies into future aircraft for the U.S. Air Force while also allowing the company to catch up to the UAS expertise of rivals Boeing and Northrop Grumman. 

Rumored for years, Polecat was finally revealed by Lockheed Martin officials in an attempt to quell critics who said the company had been too focused on its crewed fighter business. 

Skunk Works selected a tailless "Horton" wing design first used by Germany in World War II. The vehicle was lost in a crash in December of that year, and no other prototypes were produced. (Lockheed Martin photo). See the cover and read the full issue.

July 24 2006 | Aviation Week

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