GA's MQ-XX is revealed

Pic. Source : www.secretprojects.co.uk

 Finally, maybe the last candidate, General Atomic's MQ-25 candidate design is revealed. It is more similar to Boeing's design due to the combination of conventional wing-body with canted VT, functioning complex role of VT and HT. 

 Nothing much can be specified, because GA is already familiar with designing such a aircraft in practical use. Compare to other candidates of Boeing and LM, it has larger air-intake than others while airliner style wing-let can be noticed. 

General impression of the aircraft is re-assembly of their own designs in GA without taking risk for the projects. However, while other two candidate have potential of LO design for further variation development, GA choose relatively 'focused-way' for aerial taker mission. 

USAF 2030 - Commercial

 * DEW with 6th Gen. Fighter

 * Swarm of UAV, launched from C-130

 * UCAV+F-35, SDB

 * EMP Cruise missile

 * Simultaneous co-operation of these things are recognized

LM's MQ-XX is revealed

Pic. Source : https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php

 Finally, LM's MQ-XX design candidate is revealed; BWB type wing-fuselage design with one engine can be noticed. Asymmetric layout of aerial re-fuel tank can be specified. 

 At the nose, several sensors are located for (possibly) navigation, simple surveillance, or situation awareness while some antennas are located under the fuselage, and fuel tank is located beside of it. 

 Landing gears are well designed to secure space for additional payload on the wing, however, attachment of additional payload is uncertain. Inlet duct are not severely distorted, usual for stealth aircraft with loss of engine efficiency, to obtain better cruise efficiency with small loss of duct. 

 Compare to Boeing's design, it looks lack of canted VT and huge fuselage. It looks similar to the company's previous RQ-170 while Boeing made it looks like Tacit Blue (Although Tacit Blue was from NG)

Design Evolution of F-22

 Design evolution of F-22; chine nose and air-intake style are maintained since 87 version of F-22. Planform design of main-wing, HT, and VT are continuously changed from swept to diamond type. 

 Between two years, shape of the aircraft was significantly changed for whole parts. Interesting thing is that later version of the F-22 become similar to shape of F-15. 

Boeing's E-X project

Pic. Source : https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php

 As a candidate of surveillance aircraft of USN, Boeing had proposed joint wing design. Most of the sensors are mounted on the wing, and Boeing insists it could cover and provide better sensor capability than existing systems. 

 It should be noted that complex flow pattern at the wing tip of the joint wing is studied via wind-tunnel testing. Fuselage design is similar to S-3, and engine pod is attached at the side of the body where downstream of the wing is worried. 

 Joint wing is expected to have advantage in lift/drag ratio and structural fatigue aspect, and this is why Boeing chosen this design for long-time endurance aircraft. But, sill, complex control of CG, and engine position could be trouble some phenomena when the design of the aircraft is matured. 

 Additionally, rear wing part tends to be lower or higher position than front wing to avoid downstream of the front wing which degrades performance and handling qualities or stability. In that design, if rear wing is swallowed by downstream of the front wing, aircraft could enter the severe departure status than the conventional ones.