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The Pentagon's Supersonic, Shape-Shifting Assassin

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the this-switchblade-illegal-to-carry-also dept.

grammar fascist writes "CNN reports that Northrop Grumman is under contract to build a new supersonic, shape-shifting bomber by 2020. The main innovation is in its single, rotating wing. From the article: '[It] will cruise with its 200-foot-long wing perpendicular to its engines like a normal airplane. But just before the craft breaks the sound barrier, its single wing will swivel around 60 degrees (hence the name) so that one end points forward and the other back. This oblique configuration redistributes the shock waves that pile up in front of a plane at Mach speeds and cause drag. When the Switchblade returns to subsonic speeds, the wing will rotate back to perpendicular.'"

2 of 489 comments (clear)

  1. Old Idea? by Gonoff · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I am sure I came accross this in a history book about technology that the Germans had developed in the closing part of WWII.

    --
    I'll see your Constitution and raise you a Queen.
  2. Oh no! by Chutulu · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I just hope that it's control software won't use Windows 2020 or else it will crash with a blue explosion.