Stealth jets? Hypersonic bombers? What's really being developed at the military's most famous classified base?
Posted 10.01.2006 at 1:00 am
23 Comments
The black airplane world has, without question, produced the most significant advances in aviation technology. In the 1950s, it spawned the U-2 spyplane, which flew higher and farther than anyone had thought possible. It gave birth a decade later to the SR-71 Blackbird, the exotic, revered speed king. It also produced the slow but stealthy, origami-like F-117 fighter.
But for aerospace sleuths, there´s been little activity recently in the form of declassified vehicles that might hint at current efforts. (Classified programs can be unveiled to aid in broad combat deployment or when the technology appears in other programs.) The F-117 came out of the black world during the first Iraq war 15 years ago, and only three aircraft have been introduced since. One was Polecat. Another was Northrop Grumman´s ungainly reconnaissance aircraft Tacit Blue, nicknamed â€the Whale.†The third was Boeing´s Bird of Prey, which tested visual stealth strategies, including shaping that minimizes shadows and contrast and, rumor has it, body illumination that allows it to blend into its background.
This dearth of unveiled prototypes does not mean, however, that the black-aircraft community is dormant. In fact, all signs point to steadily increasing activity. Google Earth reveals a newly constructed additional runway and multiple new hangars and buildings at the base. The usual vague, untraceable allocations in congressional budgets that often signal classified programs are on the rise, and modern technological innovations are now enabling aircraft designs that might have floundered in the black world for years. Further, there are significant gaps in the military´s known aviation arsenal-gaps that the Pentagon can reasonably be assumed to be actively, if quietly, trying to fill.
The need for such secrecy is simple: It is essential to preserving technological surprise. The Pentagon wishes to prevent enemies from developing strategies to counter the technology. The challenge is to figure out what precisely is happening-without betraying national security-because the bigger the black world gets, the better it conceals its activities. What follows is inescapably an educated guess, arrived at by analysis of the available evidence, at the tantalizing designs being cooked up on the sly at Area 51, including a radical special-forces transport, a stealthy UAV, an agile new bomber, and my own white whale-the mythical, hypersonic dragster and presumed source of those faux earthquakes: Aurora.
Is speculating on top-secret military technology a national security risk? Tell us what you think on the PopSci Blog.
23 Comments
To comment, please Login.
Download Our iPhone App
Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing
Follow Us On Twitter
Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed
Become a Fan On Facebook
Share links with friends, comment on stories and more
December 2009: Best of What's New
In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.
Check out the best of what's new here.
Popular Science Photo Pool
Popular on Popsci
Most Viewed
Technology
- IBM's Blue Gene Supercomputer Models a Cat's Entire Brain
- Intel Wants Brain Implants in Its Customers' Heads by 2020
- Batteryless Remote Control Pulls Power from Your Button Presses
- Video: The View From the Highest Man-Made Point on Earth
- Google's Replacement for HTTP Protocol to Make Web Browsing Twice as Fast
- High-Pressure Diamond Anvil Creates a New Solid from Xenon and Hydrogen
- The Dubai Airshow As Seen From Orbit
- So Do Prosthetic Limbs Give Sprinters an Advantage Or Not?
- Robotic Surrogate Takes Your Place at Work
- Boeing's Latest Mobile Laser Weapon Tracks and Shoots Down Drone
Most Commented
Technology
- Intel Wants Brain Implants in Its Customers' Heads by 2020
- IBM's Blue Gene Supercomputer Models a Cat's Entire Brain
- CERN Successfully Brings Large Hadron Collider Back Online
- NASA Robotic Rocket Plane To Survey Martian Surface
- Army Corps of Engineers Now Required to Consider Climate Change in All Future Projects
- Video: The View From the Highest Man-Made Point on Earth
- Rat Brain Modelers Denounce IBM's Cat Brain Simulation as "Shameful and Unethical" Hoax
- So Do Prosthetic Limbs Give Sprinters an Advantage Or Not?
- Scientists Stun Nematode Worms With UV Phaser Straight Out Of Star Trek
- National Security Agency's Surveillance Data Could Fill Two States by 2015
Most Emailed
Technology
- High-Pressure Diamond Anvil Creates a New Solid from Xenon and Hydrogen
- Mourning the Death of the Meta Media Experience
- Decoded Corn Genome Promises Higher Yields, Better Biofuels, New Plastics
- Everything You Need To Know About Chrome OS
- Roboticists Want to Make You an Electric Car Customized for Your Personal Commute
- "Time Traveling" Web Browser Let's You Search Like It's 1999
- Video: The View From the Highest Man-Made Point on Earth
- Smart Armor Knows Its Own Strength, As Well As The Enemy's
- Sea Lions Help U.S. Navy Handcuff Enemy Divers and Sweep Mines
- A.I. Anchors Replace Human Reporters In Newsroom of the Future
Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2009 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
well, it's NOT what YOU think, after all, is it? It's what THEY think, isn't it?
if they think it is a security risk, then it is....unless you somehow manage to go before a JUDGE...then it is his/her call....assuming that he/she isn't in THEIR pocket....and remember, when you ASSUME...you make an ASS of U and ME.
Hardly. The aircraft they let us see are not the dangerous ones anyway. One would imagine that the real military intelligence types around the world do not rely on Popular Science for their information.
That being said, I enjoy your magazine, and have for years.
The entire country should know everything that's going on at Area 51 and in the intelligence community too.
How can you have a democracy if you don't know what's going on?
Democracy--that's what we're about. Let's make it transparent.
toysoldier:
You don't have a clue what you're talking about. Sure, democracy is generally about openness for the sake of the public good. But even in everyday life we don't tell all our secrets to each other. Why would you expect the government to tell all its secrets?
You assume that literally everything there is to know OUGHT to be known by everyone. That's a false assumption. Do you think the public should have access to your bank records, social security info, etc.? Of course not. Why not? For the sake of your own security and legal identity.
Now translate that to whole nations: why would governments want to keep some things secret? For the sake of SECURITY. And this is perfectly rational. Therefore your assumption is NOT rational.
Come on get a life. Project Blue Book, Area 51 wanna be Trekkies. There are some things that the general public just doesn't have a need to know. If you did & had the clearance maybe we could share something. Live Long & Prosper -- just leave the spooks alone.
Yes, I think that the government should keep things secret, but should'nt they be more careful about thir sonic booms? If they realy wanted to keep things secret then would'nt fly them high enough so that when the sonic boom gets heard its barely audible.
I think the government just wants to spark controversy and get puplicity.
Forget airplanes the future of travel is gravity modification! Check out Ben Solomon's book: An Introduction to Gravity Modification www.iseti.us
from Waterloo, Ontario
yeah
i agree with that
we need to spend our resources on space travel, not fighting each other
at this rate i dont think earth will last more that couple more decades
and for sure some 1 is gonna drop a n-bomb any day now
Space Travel would be a wonderful thing. Imagine what we could find! I for one, think intelligent life exists out there. Im Christian, and it just makes sense that if God is infinite, then he can have infinite children, made in his image (or basic appearance and trait-set, in layman's terms). Unfortunatly, for the Earth to be able to seek out new things in planets beyond, it requires us to be unified in that effort. Takes a planet to explore a planet, takes a galaxy to explore a galaxy, etc. basic takes a "___" to *____* a "_____" formula.
Here’s the thing if you see a short skinny guy with no muscle or a huge man 6’6 300lbs of solid muscle who would you rather fight? Now same situation only the short skinny guy had an automatic assault rifle but now you see he has it, now who would you choose to fight. Now with that in mind why should we keep our military weapons a secret, (well except for the illegal ones) as long as we don’t share the technology of how to build them letting others know our true power or technological advantage would discourage others from attacking us or waging war. Correct?
For years the CIA was lying to so many people. Those people were naive and really loved the idea of extra terrestials. Perhaps it helps us take our minds off an already crazy world. But all in all it shows that our goverenment does its job to protect our future weapons.
The new facilities that whoever are using now are thought to be heading into the space realm. Its great to see that we our now venturing further into a very real possibility of exploring the cosmos. With plasma propulsion already in the works to replace Ion Propulsion we are already seeing more and more advancements that will help lead to future space vehicles that could change everything! God Bless all those working diligently to protect our nation, and thank you.
Did you just call USA a "short skinny guy"?
I'd love to know who the huge 6'6" 300lb man is....
I think keeping them under wraps is a good idea. Does anyone remember that mig-29 that was fitted with directional thrusters? I am sure the f-22 was in research at the time, and maybe we were developing similar technology, but im sure after videos of that plane flying showed up we knew it was something our new jet HAD to have. Of course now most people have only ever heard of the f-22 having directional thrust capabilities and assume we came up with it. Keeping as far ahead of the cure as possible is always a good idea.
the aurora idea has been around for a long time and they still haven't unveiled it. I distinctly remember looking at a photo of a triangular plane refuling in mid air flanked by two f-111s. Another coincidence that i have seen relatign to aurora, is that i was on vacation in san diago when one of those sonic booms occured. I looked into the sky and nothing was there.The sky was CLOUDLESS. I firmly believe in the aurora and its mach 6 capabilities and i think that is the government wants to keep it a secret even though most of America knows, fine with me because if we don't know, our enemies don't either.
c-ya l8r
honestly i think we should know about all the stuff going on in and on the premisis of area-51 becouse it is obveouly importnat to the nation and our security and seems how it is protecting the lives of us americans and the nations that we deffend. And really if you get a new security system and it is really cool would you not want every one to know about it? Also we should atleast be allowed he knowlage of knowing what is being usedd to deffend our country, but if not that then atleast they should tell us that they are working on stuff in Area-51 (seems that is extramly obveouse that they have stuff going on)? But yet i could see how telling us americans could ,and probely will, lead to other counterys haveng the knowlage that we have extramlly advanced military wepons. But yet still once we unlesh what we have and they gain knowlage of it they will try to build something simular to what we have, like they have done preveously, and then eventualy the will have wepons of equeal or even greater power then ours. So really all we are doing is post poning them and us gaining knowlage of what we are doing and alowing them more time to come up with simular stuff adn insted of somthing we are ,realy, leting them build up and gain the same amount of power that we have and then by the time we use our weopns they will alredy have something to deffend themselves and attack us while we have stuff already that could save the lives of many and yet we are not using it we are letting more and more soilders die every day becouse we dont feel like leting them use the new and improved wepones that could be saving there lives right know. So why dont we just give up all this secret shit and let our troops use the new wepons and let the other countrys find out, becouse in the long run they will find out and they will use them agenst us, so why dont we use our wepons to just stop it, becouse we all know we can(not sarcastic),and save teh live of thousands of american troops.
area 51 do exist, all employee that work there does not have record of them working there. wierd? ..us government denied its exist because area 51 is a top secret where technology is beig develop..a technology thats out of this world and yes i mean ALien crafts and others materail. it is say from one of top engineer that he was working on a top secret source that was recover from alien crafts. the materials in the craft was name ELEMENT 115 is something with infinite proton that runs alien crafts making it move speed of light and swift turns. thats is all i know about the source, and i assure its a fact. Also why do u think area 51 is keep secrets? why is there gaurds before u get near entrance of area 51? theres even 1000 miles radius metal detector surrounder area 51 base..so before u even get close they already know u are there. the base operate on its own sources..us government and president dont have the power to say are do anything about the base, its classified project thats being testing new crafts, even USO which is underwater sub object..i believe one days the truth will be told about area 51. for now let them do there things because it is benefiting us, and lets think for a second..EArth a planet in milky way galaxy which contains life..do u think out of the endless of number of galaxy out theere we are the only one? sounds crazy but i doubt we are alone...as of now..we are developing crafts thats not of this world..thats a fact.
from Princton, MA
Bob. Sometimes,its best not to know.
ALTERNATIVE FLIGHT
I've only seen experimental planes twice. There are about 10 witnesses to this but we are slowly dying.
I'm not sure what it does but it don't look like any of the other planes in flight. The only thing I can tell you is that it takes a high amount of electricity.
Possibly nuclear powered.
Satellites and meteors usually are traced when they fall to the ground, but the cover-up in the newspapers suggests that this is an experimental flight by Army. Nobody tracks this one and it shouldn’t be found anywhere near airports.
Just so you know where some fuel sources go, so you don’t get stuck looking in South Africa for something that has gone missing.
The rest is “Top Secret” so I won’t tell you about it because Dickey Monster might have to hunt you down.
It looks similar to what the Foo Fighters would have been fighting in World War 2 and it might have been built to fight UFO's.
Possibly with the power to crash planes, ect...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo_fighter
But no reports in the papers, imagine that. But the images will never be erased from my memory.
Sorry Toy Soldier...We can't give away things we spend Billons on to develop,..Development cost are the bulk of the overall oost...Even your every day companys keep there company secrets (secret) ...After a period of time the cost of VCR, TV's, Radio's, everything you use in life comes down after they recoup there start up cost..When VCR's first came out they were 1,200 to 1,400 bucks...Wow...
You will find everything out in 40-50 yrs when particuler things get declassified.
Iran would love to go on line and look at everything we have in the works so they could go straight to the building and not spend years on design...
i agree with that.
http://www.crazypurchase.com
Why is everybody so obsessed in the kinds of weapons or equipment that the military is making, they are using it to protect there country from terrorists or other threats isn't that good enough for you people!!!
Yes i know that the secrets of our nation is to protect us from terrorisom but Terrorists like Alkida and the Talaban but they are not a COUNTRY there are a group of individuals who grabs anything that they see laying on the ground. So as long as we dont give away our blueprints or guides to how to build our best weapons then we can keep it at least some parts public. like we can know that the nation really does have Aurora jets and we dont have reveal how much armor it has or how they built it. like the Abrams tank we dont know what is the armor is made out of but we know it excits. Are other countrys or the Alkida or Talaban have an Abrams or an exact copy of it??? No they do not so it safe to say that unless the so called top seret officals are planning to over throw the goverment then they dont have to be secret.