Here’s a concept image of the X-44 MANTA (Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft)—an experimental design from the late 1990s by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, in collaboration with NASA and the U.S. Air Force. This futuristic tailless fighter remains just that: a concept that never entered active service.
Is the U.S. Air Force Declaring the X-44 MANTA “Ready for Action”?
Short Answer:
No—they absolutely have not. The X-44 MANTA is a canceled concept, not an operational fighter. Any claim to the contrary is fictional or misleading.
What Was the X-44 MANTA?
- It was a conceptual aircraft designed to explore full three-axis control (yaw, pitch, roll) using only 3D thrust vectoring, with no tail surfaces.(Wikipedia, National Security Journal)
- Based on the F-22 Raptor airframe and engine, it employed a stretched delta wing without vertical or horizontal stabilizers.(Wikipedia, National Security Journal)
- The aim: achieve enhanced stealth, improved efficiency, and greater agility via simplified aerodynamics and advanced control systems.(Wikipedia, National Security Journal)
What Actually Happened to the Program?
- Work began around 1999, with plans to demonstrate the concept on an F-22 or F-15 by around 2007.(Wikipedia, National Security Journal)
- Funding was terminated in 2000, mostly due to technological risks, shifting defense priorities, and budget constraints. No prototype was ever built.(Wikipedia, National Security Journal)
- While it didn’t fly, its design ideas—especially advanced stealth and tailless configurations—may have influenced sixth-generation fighter concepts, such as the Air Force’s NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program.(The National Interest, 19FortyFive, National Security Journal)
What About the X-44A UAV?
A different project with a similar name—X-44A UAV—did actually fly:
- Built around 1999 and first flown in 2001, this unmanned flying wing drone was developed as a technology demonstrator by Lockheed Martin.(Wikipedia, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force)
- It featured tailless aerodynamics and advanced control systems.
- The X-44A is currently on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.(National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wikipedia)
Summary Table
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| X-44 MANTA is operational and “ready for action” | False – It was canceled, no prototypes flown. |
| X-44 MANTA influenced modern 6th-gen fighter designs | Plausible – It likely influenced NGAD concepts. |
| X-44A UAV exists and flew in 2001 | True – It was a separate drone demonstrator. |
Bottom Line
There is absolutely no truth to reports that the U.S. Air Force has declared the X-44 MANTA “ready for action.” It’s a visionary design that never made it off the drawing board—but its bold ideas may well live on in future fighter development programs.
Would you like a fact-checked news article style rewrite debunking this claim—or further exploration into how the X-44’s ideas are resurfacing in NGAD?