The U.S. Air Force Academy Built Its Own Stealth Drone

The U.S. Air Force Academy isn’t just minting new officers. It’s also on the verge of producing its own stealth drone.

Academy cadets have been working on a full-sized stealthy drone since 2007. The unnamed aircraft will be tested in 2019 and could become the first aircraft designed by the academy to enter service with the U.S. Armed Forces.

Work on the unnamed drone began in 2007, when faculty and cadets at the academy decided to move past the design study phase and actually build an aircraft. They envisioned their creation as a full-sized stealthy drone designed to challenge surface-to-air missile systems.