what makes a plane top secret

what is different about a X-45c
or an auroa

to me the X-45c looks like it should be more of a secret than a auroa

[edit on 28-10-2007 by xbrendanx]

[edit on 28-10-2007 by xbrendanx]

First of all, the Aurora may not exist, and in my mind it probably doesn't.

Typically a plane may be fully top secret, as in its very existence denied, when the military do not want their potential enemies to even start guessing as to what they need to defend against.

In other cases the actual aircraft may be made public, but its operational capabilities may be kept secret when its possible to do this - in some cases just looking at an aircraft is enough to give you a head start on the technology implemented.

For example, the B-2 Spirit was made public from the start, it was even rolled out at a public event. Its capabilities and technology was kept secret, but its photo was plastered all over the press.

The F-117 on the other hand was kept secret for quite a while, and when it was made public only a blurry photo was put into the public domain.

The differences between these two are extreme, and thats because the very look of the F-117 told the entire story - angled panels in such and such a fashion meant stealth. The B-2 was much more subtle, and its technological advances were in other directions, that weren't apparent in any photo shoot.

The F-22 and F-35 are being developed fully in the publics view, and that is because stealth is expected these days, and they are both going to be main stream aircraft.

The X-45C doesn't employ any radical new technology in the airframe, its all behind the scenes - theres nothing to be gained in keeping the aircraft visually secret (and yes, keeping an aircraft 'eyes sensative' costs a *lot* as it restricts what you can do, where you can do it and when you can do it).

Hope that helps.

thanks alot that really did help

The thing that makes an aircraft top secret is it's clearance standing. It can either well be considered a Black Project or a Secret Access Program.

Difference between the two is that the SAP has hope of being brought to the surface and people finding out about it. Such as the B-2, F-117. All SAP.

Not much hope for Black though.

Fabled aircraft seem to fall into that envelope.

Shattered OUT...