X-56A

The X‑56A is a modular research unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA. It is designed to investigate high-altitude, long-endurance flight by testing advanced aeroelastic control technologies such as active flutter suppression and gust-load alleviation using interchangeable stiff and highly flexible wings. The platform enables evaluation of lightweight, high-aspect-ratio wing configurations that would typically be prone to flutter. Testing included both stiff and flexible wing sets to validate digital flight control suppression across various instability modes.