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Modern air combat is increasingly defined by long-range sensors and advanced missiles, but crewed fighter jets still face a basic constraint: to fire, they often need to move within range of hostile aircraft and air defenses. In highly contested airspace, that exposure can carry significant risk. Extending strike distance without placing pilots closer to threats has therefore become a central challenge.
A new air-launched uncrewed aircraft known as LongShot is being developed to address that gap. Spearheaded by DARPA and now designated as X-68A, the system is designed to be released from a fighter, bomber or even certain cargo aircraft, then fly forward independently and launch its own air-to-air missiles. By separating the missile launch point from the crewed platform, the concept allows pilots to remain farther from enemy defenses while still engaging targets at extended range.
According to Interesting Engineering, the aircraft is host-platform agnostic, meaning it is not tied to a single type of carrier. It is planned to be compatible with fighter jets and bombers, and could also be deployed as a palletized system from mobility aircraft using systems such as Rapid Dragon. Initial flight testing is expected to begin with launch from an F-15, focusing on safe separation, airworthiness and the controlled release of a captive sub-munition.
Technically, the aircraft features a configuration resembling a compact cruise missile, with an elongated fuselage, chined nose, reverse-swept rear wings and small forward canards that deploy after launch. It incorporates an inverted V-tail and a dorsal engine intake with a vertical strake. Power is provided by a single Williams WJ38-15 turbojet, an engine also used in other long-range precision systems, enabling high subsonic performance. Recent milestones have included full-scale wind tunnel testing, as well as successful trials of parachute recovery and weapons-release mechanisms. The parachute system is intended for testing and training rather than operational missions.
From a defense perspective, this represents a shift toward distributed air combat. By pushing missile-carrying capability forward through uninhabited platforms, air forces could increase survivability and flexibility in future high-threat scenarios.
