Aurora Flight Sciences has begun manufacturing the X-65 experimental aircraft for DARPA’s CRANE program following a successful design review. The unmanned, 7,000-lb X-plane features a 30-ft wingspan and uses active flow control (AFC), directing pressurized air through 14 embedded effectors to replace traditional control surfaces like flaps and rudders. Designed with a modular structure—including swappable wings and components—the aircraft will test performance across different configurations at speeds up to Mach 0.7.

The X-65 fuselage has arrived in Virginia, where teams are integrating electrical, propulsion, and AFC systems, while wing and tail manufacturing continue in West Virginia. Production is advancing toward first flight, planned for 2027, to validate AFC technology that could transform both military and commercial aircraft design.