Compass Cope was developed in the 1970s as a multipurpose system designed for a variety of high-altitude, long-endurance Air Force missions. This remotely piloted vehicle was conceived as an unmanned, jet-powered, lightweight aircraft capable of flying a large variety of payloads to high altitudes for extended periods. Although designed for multi-missions, it offered potential as a carrier for payloads such as radar or infrared surveillance equipment, or communications relay systems. Boeing built and flew two of the Compass Cope prototypes, designated the YQM-94A, in 1973 and 1974. Both were under manual control continously from a control station on the ground. The Air Force terminated the contract in July 1977.