The X-68A LongShot drone, developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in collaboration with General Atomics, has entered pre-flight testing after completing a series of ground evaluations.
Recent milestones include full-scale wind tunnel tests, parachute recovery system trials and weapons release demonstrations. The first flight is expected this year, launching from an F-15 Eagle fighter.
The program aims to validate the concept of an unmanned aircraft capable of launching air-to-air missiles, increasing the attack range of the launch platform and reducing its exposure to threats. Previously released images indicate that the LongShot can carry at least one AIM-120 AMRAAM missile inside the internal compartment. The drone has a configuration similar to that of a cruise missile, with wings that unfold after launch and propulsion via a turbojet engine.
In addition to the F-15, DARPA is evaluating the integration of the X-68A with bombers and transport aircraft, including through the Rapid Dragon system, which allows the use of weapons from air-launched pallets. The concept involves rapidly deploying multiple drones to saturate an area of airspace, creating a temporary defensive layer or increasing offensive capability against aerial targets.
While the project promises greater operational flexibility and integration with advanced data-sharing networks, questions remain about the cost-effectiveness of a potentially disposable drone in real combat scenarios. However, the LongShot is considered part of a larger strategy to transform US air supremacy 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
