Aviation News – DARPA’s experimental X-65 aircraft, designed to steer using controlled bursts of air instead of traditional moving surfaces, is now expected to make its first flight in late 2027 following a program pause and restructuring.
The unmanned aircraft, developed by Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, was originally scheduled to fly more than two years earlier. The X-65 forms part of DARPA’s effort to demonstrate “active flow control,” a next-generation aerodynamic technology aimed at reshaping future aircraft design.
Active flow control replaces standard control surfaces—such as ailerons or rudders—with air bursts that manipulate airflow around the aircraft to change its direction. If proven effective, the technology could reduce mechanical complexity, cut maintenance needs, and enable new aerodynamic configurations.
With the timeline now reset for 2027, engineers will continue system integration, actuator testing, and aerodynamic validation. A successful demonstration could accelerate the adoption of flow-control technologies in military and commercial platforms.