A Boeing PR video showing their “Bird of Prey” technology demonstrator from 1996. This was meant to showcase new materials, manufacturing, aerodynamics and stealth technologies, and was not meant to serve as a prototype for an operational vehicle. As the video shows, some of the design aspects did *sorta* work their way into the Boeing X-45 UCAV. The plane flew 38 times, and the total program cost about $67 million… chump change by normal aerospace standards.
It was slow, underpowered and incapable of carrying meaningful ordnance, but it’s still interesting to ponder what an evolved version might have been turned into.
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The Bird of Prey was unveiled in 2002. I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but… has the US unveiled any other advanced manned military aircraft since then?