Engineering:Lambda wing
A lambda wing is a wing whose trailing edge resembles the Greek uppercase letter lambda (Λ). A lambda wing has a dramatically smaller radar cross section than a delta wing, and so is commonly featured on stealth aircraft—for example, the Northrop B-2 Spirit and Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider.[1] Like these strategic bombers, aircraft with lambda wings are often tailless.[1]
An early experiment with a lambda wing on smaller aircraft was the McDonnell Douglas X-36, which first flew in 1997.[2] Similar designs have been used on unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), including the Boeing X-45, Northrop Grumman X-47B, Dassault nEUROn, and BAE Systems Taranis.[3]
The UK-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme considered but abandoned a lambda wing design.[4] The wing is used in Lockheed Martin's "Vectis" proposal for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.[5]
In 2023, Beihang University researchers proposed moving wingtips as a solution to the wing’s aerodynamic instabilities, which caused the 2008 Andersen Air Force Base B-2 crash. The Chinese Shenyang J-50, known to be flight testing since 2024, is reported to use a lambda wing with moving wingtips.[6] A tailless lambda wing UCAV dubbed "Type A" was displayed during the 2025 China Victory Day Parade.
The Boeing F-47 has been speculated to use a wing that resembles those of the X-36, the Boeing Bird of Prey, and IAIO Qaher-313.[7]
See also
- Delta wing
- Tailless aircraft
- Radar cross section
- Stealth aircraft
- Sixth-generation fighter
- Next Generation Air Dominance
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Yuan, Chengen; Ma, Dongli; Jia, Yuhong; Yang, Muqing; Zhang, Liang (2023-10-01). "Numerical analysis of pitch-break and all moving wingtip aileron of lambda wing configuration". Aerospace Science and Technology 141. doi:10.1016/j.ast.2023.108508. ISSN 1270-9638. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1270963823004054.
- ↑ "Which Experimental Aircraft Might the F-47 Resemble: X-36 and Bird of Prey, or Why It Reflects McDonnell Douglas's Legacy? | Defense Express" (in en). https://en.defence-ua.com/events/which_experimental_aircraft_might_the_f_47_resemble_x_36_and_bird_of_prey_or_why_it_reflects_mcdonnell_douglass_legacy-13953.html.
- ↑ Nangia, R. K.; Coppin, Joe; Ghoreyshi, Mehdi, "A UCAV Wing Design, Assessment and Comparisons.", 2018 Applied Aerodynamics Conference (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), doi:10.2514/6.2018-2842, https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2018-2842, retrieved 2025-11-21
- ↑ "Japan unveils concept of next-gen fighter" (in en-US). 2024-10-18. https://defence-blog.com/japan-unveils-concept-of-next-gen-fighter/.
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works Aims Vectis CCA at International Market" (in en). https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2025-11-18/skunk-works-aims-vectis-cca-international-market.
- ↑ Rogoway, Thomas Newdick, Tyler (2025-01-27). "China's Mysterious Tailless Stealth Fighter Has Swiveling Wingtips" (in en-US). https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-mysterious-tailless-stealth-fighter-has-swiveling-wingtips.
- ↑ Rogoway, Tyler (2025-03-24). "What The F-47's Canards Say About The Rest Of Its Design" (in en-US). https://www.twz.com/air/what-the-f-47s-canards-say-about-the-rest-of-its-design.
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