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The Air Force’s Secret New Fighter Jet Will Be Unstoppable—But Its Design Is a Clever Deception

created: May 19, 2025, 5:43 p.m. | updated: May 23, 2025, 2:52 p.m.

Such measures are hardly unprecedented, as the service has obscured or misleadingly altered the initial imagery of all but one of its prior stealth aircraft. U.S. Air Force GraphicAnother of those eyebrow-raising features includes a depiction of wings with an up-swept angle, known as a dihedral. While the U.S. has built tailless stealth bombers, maneuvering limitations have discouraged tailless fighters. Currently, the Air Force is evaluating the competing General Atomics YFQ-42 and Anduril YFQ-44 drones to serve as missile carriers, while a more expensive Increment 2 Loyal Wingman is being solicited. Until then, we must accept that the Air Force is not above teasing the public with less-than-faithful artwork of its secret aircraft.

7 months ago: Latest Content - Popular Mechanics