General Atomics lands funding to continue XQ-67 development | News [Video]

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has secured an additional $9 million in funding from the US Air Force to continue development of the company’s prototype XQ-67 Off-Board Sensing Station jet.

The San Diego-based manufacturer of uncrewed aircraft received the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contract on 1 June, bringing the Pentagon’s total investment in the project to nearly $68 million.

General Atomics first revealed the existence of the XQ-67 in February, with the type making its first flight later that month. The single-engined jet was remotely piloted for that sortie, but the air force says it does have the ability to fly autonomously.

The service on 26 June released the first video from that maiden flight, which took place from a General Atomics facility near Palmdale, California.

The AFRL describes the XQ-67 as the first example of a “second-generation of autonomous collaborative programmes”, one that builds on technology developed for the Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie autonomous jet.

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