In 1992, McDonnell Douglas embarked on an ambitious project that would improve future UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles). The project was the "Bird of Prey" which was small at 47 ft long and a span of a mere 23 ft. This version was manned with seating for pilot only. It featured an intake behind the pilot which sloped to reduce radar signature and had a ventral tail and wings with down-turned tips for lateral stability. It was made using a new "Smart" assembly process with 3-D VR (Virtual Reality), large single-piece composite components, and disposable tooling. From 1996-1999 the BOP made 38 test flights and the data collected proved to be invaluable to future UCAV projects. By the time it was displayed to the public in 2002 and taken to the Airforce Museum in Ohio, McDonnell Douglas was aquired by Boeing which plans to use the data on one of its UCAV future designs. It was called BOP as a raptor, not due to any resemblence to the ST Klingon BOP!!!

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