X-Planes Face Relevance Questions as Cheap Drones Reshape Modern Warfare

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America's experimental X-plane program is facing scrutiny over its role in a rapidly evolving defense landscape. The rise of low-cost drone technology has prompted questions about whether costly crewed experimental aircraft remain necessary. Drones have demonstrated significant battlefield utility, offering cheaper and more expendable alternatives to traditional manned aircraft. Defense analysts and military planners are now debating how X-plane development should be prioritized alongside unmanned systems going forward.

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