The first of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s two X-56A remotely piloted testbed aircraft crashed during a test flight at Edwards AFB, Calif., base officials stated in a release. The Lockheed-Martin built Multi-Utility Technology Testbed (MUTT) aircraft, built to explore technology for combating aerodynamic flutter and gust-loading, crashed on Rogers Dry Lakebed shortly after take?off Nov. 19. The RPA was “severely” damaged but caused no injury or property damage, according to the release. AFRL spokesman Daryl Mayer told Air Force Magazine that “Fido,” the first X-56A launched in 2013, was the airframe involved in the incident. The RPA flew a total of 16 sorties, logging approximately six hours flying time before the accident, and was joined by a second X-56 testbed dubbed “Buckeye” earlier this year. Officials initiated a crash investigation and are evaluating lessons from the incident before taking further action.
SDA’s Next Phase of Data Transport Satellites on Hold
June 30, 2025
The long-term future of one of the Space Development Agency’s two satellite constellations is on hold as officials study the options for replacing a planned “data transport layer” with one or more commercial solutions. President Trump’s proposed 2026 defense budget...