{{Short description|Combat aircraft wing design}} [[File:X-47B receiving fuel from a 707 tanker while operating in the Atlantic Test Ranges.jpg|thumb|Northrop Grumman X-47B, a typical lambda wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle.]] 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Yuan |first=Chengen |last2=Ma |first2=Dongli |last3=Jia |first3=Yuhong |last4=Yang |first4=Muqing |last5=Zhang |first5=Liang |date=2023-10-01 |title=Numerical analysis of pitch-break and all moving wingtip aileron of lambda wing configuration |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1270963823004054 |journal=Aerospace Science and Technology |volume=141 |article-number=108508 |doi=10.1016/j.ast.2023.108508 |issn=1270-9638|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Like these strategic bombers, aircraft with lambda wings are often tailless.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:X-36 on Ramp - GPN-2000-000233.jpg|thumb|McDonnell Douglas X-36, an early study in lambda wings, also using canards ]] An early experiment with a lambda wing on smaller aircraft was the McDonnell Douglas X-36, which first flew in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Which Experimental Aircraft Might the F-47 Resemble: X-36 and Bird of Prey, or Why It Reflects McDonnell Douglas's Legacy? {{!}} Defense Express |url=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 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=en.defence-ua.com |language=en |archive-date=2025-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114141643/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 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Citation |last=Nangia |first=R. K. |title=A UCAV Wing Design, Assessment and Comparisons. |work=2018 Applied Aerodynamics Conference |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2018-2842 |access-date=2025-11-21 |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |doi=10.2514/6.2018-2842 |last2=Coppin |first2=Joe |last3=Ghoreyshi |first3=Mehdi |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
The UK-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme considered but abandoned a lambda wing design.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-18 |title=Japan unveils concept of next-gen fighter |url=https://defence-blog.com/japan-unveils-concept-of-next-gen-fighter/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Defence Blog – Military and Defense News |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251225235508/https://defence-blog.com/japan-unveils-concept-of-next-gen-fighter/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The wing is used in Lockheed Martin's "Vectis" proposal for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works Aims Vectis CCA at International Market |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2025-11-18/skunk-works-aims-vectis-cca-international-market |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Aviation International News (AIN) |language=en |archive-date=2025-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251203234327/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2025-11-18/skunk-works-aims-vectis-cca-international-market |url-status=live }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogoway |first=Thomas Newdick, Tyler |date=2025-01-27 |title=China's Mysterious Tailless Stealth Fighter Has Swiveling Wingtips |url=https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-mysterious-tailless-stealth-fighter-has-swiveling-wingtips |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250613195250/https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-mysterious-tailless-stealth-fighter-has-swiveling-wingtips |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogoway |first=Tyler |date=2025-03-24 |title=What The F-47's Canards Say About The Rest Of Its Design |url=https://www.twz.com/air/what-the-f-47s-canards-say-about-the-rest-of-its-design |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251112053546/https://www.twz.com/air/what-the-f-47s-canards-say-about-the-rest-of-its-design |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also == * Delta wing * Tailless aircraft * Radar cross section * Stealth aircraft * Sixth-generation fighter * Next Generation Air Dominance
== References == {{Reflist}}
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Category:Aircraft wing design Category:Wing configurations