BAE Replica
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Replica | |
---|---|
Type | Stealth aircraft |
Manufacturer | BAE Systems |
Status | Unknown |
Primary user | Royal Air Force |
The Replica was a military aircraft with stealth capabilities, under development by BAE Systems for the Royal Air Force, as part of its now cancelled Future Offensive Air System. A full size model has been built and subjected to a rigorous test programme to determine its radar cross section, but apart from a single photograph and a short statement, the project remains classified.
The aircraft was not designed to be as difficult to detect as the F-117 Nighthawk of the US Air Force; rather, it was a cheaper stealth aircraft justifiable by the military budget of the United Kingdom.