Reuters
By Alex Dobuzinskis, August 15, 2012
* Program details classified; cost undisclosed
* Goal to be able to get missiles anywhere in an hour
An undated U.S. Air Force handout graphic depicts the X-51A Waverider in flight.
Credit: Reuters/US Air Force/Handout/Files
LOS ANGELES, Aug 15 (Reuters) - An unmanned experimental aircraft designed to fly six times the speed of sound broke apart over the Pacific Ocean seconds into a military test flight due to a faulty control fin, the U.S. Air Force said on Wednesday.
The problem with the fin on the craft known as the Waverider or X-51A was identified in a test flight on Tuesday, 16 seconds after a rocket booster on the remotely monitored craft was ignited to propel it forward, the Air Force said in a statement.
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