The X-68A LongShot drone, developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in partnership with General Atomics, has moved into the phase preceding flight tests after completing a series of ground evaluations.
Recent milestones include full-scale wind tunnel testing, parachute recovery system trials, and weapons release demonstrations. The first flight is expected to take place later this year, with launch from an F-15 Eagle fighter jet.
The program aims to validate the concept of an unmanned aircraft capable of firing air-to-air missiles, extending the strike range of the launching platform while reducing its exposure to threats. Previously released images indicate that the LongShot can carry at least one AIM-120 AMRAAM missile in an internal bay. The drone features a configuration similar to a cruise missile, with wings that deploy after launch and propulsion provided by a turbojet engine.
In addition to the F-15, DARPA is evaluating integration of the X-68A with bombers and transport aircraft, including through the Rapid Dragon system, which enables weapons deployment from air-dropped pallets. The concept envisions multiple drones being rapidly deployed to saturate an area of airspace, creating a temporary defensive layer or enhancing offensive capability against aerial targets.
Although the project promises greater operational flexibility and integration with advanced data-sharing networks, questions remain about the cost-effectiveness of a potentially expendable drone in real combat scenarios. Even so, the LongShot is seen as part of a broader strategy to transform U.S. air superiority and could influence future collaborative unmanned aircraft programs under development by the Armed Forces.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @DARPA | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
We’re making serious progress on our LongShot program. 💯
Thanks to support from our government and industry partners, we successfully completed several technical milestones, moving the program – recently designated the X-68A – closer to flight testing. pic.twitter.com/cZox6cxHsg
— DARPA (@DARPA) February 17, 2026
