Overview

• DARPA, in collaboration with Aurora Flight Sciences, has begun building the X-65 aircraft, an experimental jet that aims to revolutionize flight control by using jets of pressurized air, known as active flow control (AFC) actuators, instead of traditional moving parts.
• The X-65 is part of DARPA's Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program, which seeks to validate AFC technology and explore its potential applications in both military and civilian sectors.
• The X-65 aircraft will be built with both conventional moving control surfaces and AFC actuators to compare the performance of the two systems.
• The aircraft will feature a 30-foot wingspan, weigh 7,000 pounds, and be capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 0.7, making it similar in size and speed to military trainer aircraft.
• The X-65 is expected to be completed and unveiled in early 2025, with the first flight targeted for summer 2025.