The first "DarkStar" air vehicle roll-out took place at the Lockheed Advanced Development Company facility (the "Skunk Works") on 1 June 1995; flight and system performance tests will begin 1Q FY96. The LO HAE UAV is progressing toward a limited demonstration scheduled to start 4Q FY96. In the meantime, work continues to refine the system concept of operation, prepare for flight testing, and fabricate a second air vehicle and a limited Launch Control Recovery Station for initial demonstrations.
Concept of Operations
(DarkStar's) rollout is bringing to fruition the spirit of the ACTD philosophy which is based on a three element strategy: First, direct user/operator involvement in a working partnership with the technologists and the developers from the very start of the program; second, a way for the military users to evaluate the military utility and the concepts of operations and to test those approaches before they make the costly decisions to proceed with development; and finally, a mechanism for the user to, over an extended period of time, understand how best to use the new capabilities that are going to him.Mr. Larry Lynn
Acting Director, ARPA
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Advanced Technology
LO HAE, DarkStar rollout ceremony, June 1995