US develops supersonic UAV in space

The US military is developing a new generation of drone aircraft operating in space and is expected to test it in 2017.

>>> DARPA launches space transportation project

The United States Agency for Advanced Defense Research (DARPA) has approved the first design contract for the UAV Spaceplane test project , also known as the XS-1 project . New UAVs will launch flights into orbit in 2018 after completion of the preparation phase.

DARPA expects the XS-1 project to help make at least 10 flights per year orbit and cost less than $ 5 million for each shipment from 1,361 to 2,268 kilowatts.

Project Management XS-1 Jess Sponable said: 'The new ultra -compact UAV shortens access to space and is affordable. The flights will be made more often '.

While Earth orbiting satellites can not be reused after a period of time, the XS-1 UAVs are useful in this case. At the end of the mission, it can return to Earth to prepare for the next flight.

UAV XS-1s can also be used as reconnaissance satellites or simply turn them into ultra-fast transport vehicles to any location in the world.