Boeing’s Phantom Eye liquid-hydrogen-powered remotely piloted aircraft completes its first autonomous flight, reaching an altitude of more than 4,000 feet and a cruising speed of 62 knots during its 28-minute flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.