Lego has spied an opportunity to play a role in emergent sixth-generation fighter requirements. The toymaker is displaying a life-sized X-Wing made entirely of Lego bricks.
The design represents a different vision for the future of air combat. The airframe’s hard angles disregard low observable shaping, and the fighter’s four engines lack S-ducts to conceal their fan faces from enemy radars.
The X-Wing also has no beyond-visual-range missiles. Its four wing-tip cannons and internally-carried photon torpedoes are instead optimised for dogfight tactics reminiscent of the First World War.
BillyPix
Nonetheless, the X-Wing has some attributes that will be highly attractive to air forces. It excels in all flight regimes, including a faster-than-light capability that defies the laws of physics. Included in the X-Wing combat system is a powerful artificial intelligence node, or R2 unit.
This loyal companion enhances situational awareness and can repair battle damage on the fly. Some air forces may be irked by the R2’s inability to communicate in anything but beeps and whistles.
Best of all, the Lego X-Wing can be entirely disassembled and rebuilt into other weapons systems – or handed to the kids for hours of fun.
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Source: Flight Daily News
