Aurora Flight Sciences

DARPA is likely to make a down select for a high-speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) prototype program within weeks.

Future battlefields with dispersed units and contested logistics are driving DARPA’s new portfolio of disruptive investments.

The project is developing a digital twin of Aurora’s Skiron-X expeditionary uncrewed aircraft.

High-speed testbeds make progress; validating a digital twin; non-CO2 emissions road map; power-beamed UAV; SAF via bacteria.

Round the world on hydrogen; first-responder VTOL competition; stop-fold tiltrotor; another Chinese eVTOL.

The Aurora Flight Sciences team is competing with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) during phase 1B of the Liberty Lifter program.

Active flow control promises to be lighter, less complex and higher-performing than movable flight controls.

DARPA has decided to move forward with a new X-plane designed by Aurora Flight Sciences.

Fan-in-wing high-speed VTOL; JAL eyes hydrogen-electric; China’s firefighting eVTOL; Wright hybrid-electric testbed; and Islander to fly 5G.

DARPA plans to select designs from one or more of the companies to build a prototype to fly in 2027.

A two-decade trend of failed X-plane projects at the agency appears to be reversing, with a recent switch to a scaled-down approach producing results.

South Korean researchers have developed a humanoid robot capable of understanding flight manuals and flying an aircraft without cockpit modifications.

The EL-2 Goldfinch’s multiple electric propellers blow the wing to enable ultra-short takeoffs and landings.

Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences on June 20 announced a joint effort to develop new defensive systems and countermeasures for the KC-46 and future tankers.

A new DARPA aircraft designed by Aurora Flight Sciences to experiment with active flow control technology has been designated the X-65.

U.S. startup RapidFlight has emerged from stealth mode to launch the M2, a Group 3 uncrewed aircraft system that is 3D-printed.

Lockheed Martin Ventures has invested in electric seaglider startup Regent to speed up the development of a military variant of the company’s aircraft.

Aurora Flight Sciences has revealed an eight-propulsor, monohull design for the DARPA Liberty Lifter program.

Aurora plans to fly an X-plane for DARPA in 2025 that will fly solely by using active flow control instead of mechanical control surfaces.