DARPA’s autonomous missile-firing missile advances toward flight tests
Summary
DARPA’s X-68A “LongShot” programme — an air-launched, unmanned vehicle designed to carry and deploy existing air-to-air weapons — has moved closer to flight testing. The project, which began in 2021, has completed key test milestones including full-scale wind-tunnel evaluations and trials of parachute recovery and weapon-release systems. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is the Phase 2 contractor. DARPA says the demonstrator flies autonomously, is being developed to be aircraft-agnostic and is expected to be launched from an F-15 in initial flight trials planned as early as the end of 2026.
Key Points
- LongShot (X-68A) is an unmanned, air-launched vehicle intended to carry at least two existing air-to-air weapons.
- Recent milestones include full-scale wind-tunnel testing plus parachute recovery and weapon-release trials.
- The demonstrator is autonomous and designed to be aircraft-agnostic for integration with fighters, bombers or larger support aircraft.
- GA-ASI was selected to continue Phase 2 after initial design contracts in 2021; flight tests were originally envisaged earlier but are now slated for as early as late 2026.
- DARPA frames the X-68A as an experimental flight demonstrator — follow-on development would be required to turn it into an operational combat capability.
Why should I read this?
Because DARPA just stuck missiles in a missile-shaped drone and wants to fling it from fighters — it’s weird, noteworthy and could change how air combat is done. If you keep an eye on defence tech, autonomy or air warfare, this is the kind of odd-but-important development you’ll want the skinny on.
Context and relevance
This programme sits at the intersection of autonomy and weapons integration. If LongShot’s demonstrator proves flight controls, safe separation and weapon-release mechanisms, it could pave a path toward uncrewed, air-launched strike extensions that reduce pilot risk and extend engagement reach. The project also highlights ongoing industry involvement: Phase I design contracts were awarded to General Atomics, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, with GA-ASI chosen to progress Phase 2.
That said, LongShot remains experimental. DARPA emphasises the X-68A is primarily a testbed to validate vehicle performance; further engineering, testing and service-level development would be required before any operational fielding. The programme is relevant to trends in autonomous systems, force projection and the ethics and policy debate around autonomous weapons.