Rockwell HiMAT Remotely Piloted Research Aircraft
The Rockwell HiMAT aircraft were two remotely piloted research demonstrators flown 26 times from 1979 to January 1983. Their swept wings, forward canards, composites, and digital control systems supported tests of highly maneuverable fighter technologies. A B-52 released each vehicle at altitude; a ground-based pilot flew it using television imagery, with backup controls in a TF-104G chase aircraft. The vehicles landed on the dry lakebed at NASA Dryden. Experiments examined how advanced structures, aeroelastic tailoring, propulsion controls, and maneuvering autopilots worked together.
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Identity
- Aliases
- HiMATHighly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology
- Family Name
- Rockwell HiMAT
- Full Name
- Rockwell HiMAT Remotely Piloted Research Aircraft
- Roles
- researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Crew Capacity
- 0
- Operating Modes
- land
- Description
- The Rockwell HiMAT aircraft were two remotely piloted research demonstrators flown 26 times from 1979 to January 1983. Their swept wings, forward canards, composites, and digital control systems supported tests of highly maneuverable fighter technologies. A B-52 released each vehicle at altitude; a ground-based pilot flew it using television imagery, with backup controls in a TF-104G chase aircraft. The vehicles landed on the dry lakebed at NASA Dryden. Experiments examined how advanced structures, aeroelastic tailoring, propulsion controls, and maneuvering autopilots worked together.
- Dimensions
- Length
- …
- First Flight Year
- 1,979
- Last Flight Year
- 1,983
- Operator
- Programs
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- NASA identifies a General Electric J-85-21; linked at the canonical J85 family level.
- Name
- HiMAT J85-21 installation
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:22:04 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:33:18 UTC