Planes Of The Future: Self-Healing Air-crafts, 3D Drones To Take To The Skies

Scientists and engineers at BAE Systems have unveiled some of the cutting-edge technologies that could be commonplace on civil and military aircraft by 2040.
The innovative technologies range from energy beams that can destroy missiles at the speed of light, to vehicle parts that can heal Source news.sky.com/story/1296649/cutting-edge-aircrathemselves are among the features that could be incorporated into aircraft within 25 years.
They include 3D printers that are so advanced they can print drones during a mission, aircraft parts that can heal themselves, a long-range aircraft which divides into several smaller aircraft when it reaches its destination, and a weapon that could engage and destroy missiles at the speed of light.
The examples are among the concepts currently being looked at by BAE’s research team, which had a budget of £117m in 2013.
The firm also showed-off a flexible aircraft system which combines smaller jets for efficient air travel, before they split apart at the destination to adapt to various scenarios – such as surveillance or combat.
The energy-beam weapon is called a director energy system. It is a futuristic attachment weapon for aircraft that is capable of firing a concentrated beam of energy at the speed of light.
They are already in use on battlefields to protect ground troops from incoming projectiles such as missiles or mortars.
BAE also detailed how aircraft could one day heal themselves from damage sustained in flight.
A lightweight adhesive fluid inside a pattern of carbon nanotubes would be released when outer material is damaged to quickly “set” mid-flight, providing a temporary fix.