In the late 20th century, Boeing was creating an affordable next-generation strike fighter that would be more lethal, more survivable and more supportable than any strike fighter before it. It was to replace aging aircraft of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Navy and those of other nations. Under a four-year U.S. Department of Defense contract awarded in late 1996, Boeing built two X-32 demonstrators while also demonstrating key technologies necessary to design, build, operate and maintain a truly affordable, high-performance strike fighter. Pictured here is the conventional take-off and landing variant for the U.S. Air Force.