Overview
- Aurora Flight Sciences has begun mating the X-65’s triangular wing sections at its Virginia integration facility and is continuing systems integration ahead of ground tests planned for late 2026 and an initial flight target in 2027.
- The X-65 carries embedded plumbing that feeds fourteen active flow control effectors which use bursts of pressurized air to produce roll, pitch and yaw instead of relying solely on conventional moving control surfaces.
- Engineers built the aircraft on a delta‑derived, triangular planform with modular outboard sections so teams can reconfigure wing sweep between test campaigns to compare aerodynamic and control performance.
- DARPA selected Aurora as sole contractor in January 2024 and the agency and Aurora agreed a co‑investment in August 2025; Pentagon budget documents cite roughly $38 million for CRANE in FY2024 and $23.8 million in FY2025, and Aurora is a Boeing subsidiary.
- U.S. research agencies including AFRL, NASA, NAVAIR and ONR are watching CRANE because removing hinge lines could yield smoother outer mold lines, lower radar signature and lower maintenance needs, which could shape future military aircraft design and survivability.