Future warfare: this vertical takeoff military jet looks straight out of sci-fi December 7, 2025 by Sylvain Biget Aurora Flight Sciences has just completed its first ground effect test for its high-speed vertical takeoff and landing aircraft concept—a futuristic X-Plane designed to carry cargo or troops as fast as a jet, yet land vertically like a helicopter. A few months ago, Futura introduced this innovative X-Plane, created as part of DARPA’s Sprint program in the U.S. It’s a military aircraft that merges the agility of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) with the cruising speed of an airplane. The goal: move troops and supplies far faster than traditional helicopters while maintaining their maneuverability . Now, the company has taken a big step forward with its first successful test of the aircraft’s vertical lift engines, confirming how they perform near the ground. The prototype used in this trial is a small-scale model with a wingspan of just 55 inches. It features three turbines—one in each wing and another at the front of the fuselage. The ground effect test verified that the landing gear is tall enough to keep the plane stable during hover, preventing nose dips near the platform. It also showed that suction forces created while hovering are minimal. Next up: Aurora plans to test a larger prototype, with a 2.7-meter wingspan, in a wind tunnel to assess the stability of its blended-wing design. First flights expected by 2027? A smaller model will also be used to fine-tune the aerodynamics of the vertical takeoff system. Ultimately, Aurora aims to build a full demonstrator drone with a 46-foot wingspan, capable of carrying up to 1,000 pounds of payload. Its top horizontal speed could reach about 515 mph. The full-scale aircraft will have a massive 130-foot wingspan and a 40-foot-wide cargo bay. It’s expected to use four lift rotors—possibly with thrust-vectoring abilities to enhance control. Interestingly, images released by Aurora show no visible moving parts like ailerons. Could this mean the aircraft will rely on an advanced airflow-based control system for maneuvering? In the Sprint competition, Aurora faces a major rival: Boeing . Both designs will go before DARPA for evaluation in April 2025, and the winning concept is expected to enter flight testing by 2027—a milestone that could mark a new era in aviation technology. Sylvain Biget Journalist From journalism to tech expertiseSylvain Biget is a journalist driven by a fascination for technological progress and the digital world’s impact on society. A graduate of the École Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris, he quickly steered his career toward media outlets specializing in high-tech. Holder of a private-pilot licence and certified professional drone operator, he blends his passion for aviation with deep expertise in tech reporting. A key member of Futura’s editorial teamAs a technology journalist and editor at Futura, Sylvain covers a wide spectrum of topics—cybersecurity, the rise of electric vehicles, drones, space science and emerging technologies. Every day he strives to keep Futura’s readers up to date on current tech developments and to explore the many facets of tomorrow’s world. His keen interest in the advent of artificial intelligence enables him to cast a distinctive light on the challenges of this technological revolution. Source: https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/future-warfare-this-vertical-takeoff-military-jet-looks-straight-out-of-sci-fi_21965/