The X-68A LongShot drone was developed in collaboration between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and General Atomics and has entered the pre-flight testing phase after completing a series of ground evaluations.
Recent major achievements include full-scale wind tunnel testing, parachute recovery system testing, and weapons delivery demonstrations. The first flight is expected sometime this year and will be launched from an F-15 Eagle fighter jet.
The program aims to validate an unmanned aerial vehicle concept capable of launching air-to-air missiles, extending the launch platform’s range and reducing its exposure to threats. Previously released images show that LongShot can carry at least one AIM-120 AMRAAM missile in its internal hangar. The drone is similar in configuration to a cruise missile, with wings deploying after launch and being propelled by a turbojet engine.
In addition to the F-15, DARPA is looking at integrating the X-68A with bombers and transport aircraft, and the Rapid Dragon system would allow the weapon to operate from air-dropped pallets. The concept is designed to rapidly deploy multiple drones to saturate airspace, form a temporary defensive layer, or enhance attack capabilities against aerial targets.
While the project promises high operational flexibility and integration with advanced data sharing networks, questions remain about the cost-effectiveness of potentially disposable drones in real combat scenarios. Nonetheless, LongShot is considered part of the U.S. Air Force’s transformation strategy of superiority, and may also have implications for future unmanned cooperative aircraft programs.
source: The War Zone | Photo: This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by our 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
