
The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the U.S. Air Force, and NASA are collaborating on the Blended Wing Body (BWB) demonstrator. DIU hopes to have the demonstrator ready to fly by 2026, according to a DIU solicitation (Defense Daily, July 27). Such an aircraft may save the Pentagon significant fuel costs and could fill niches for the Air Force for a future cargo aircraft or even the KC-Z tanker, which may incorporate stealth features. Under BWB, the wings are not…