DARPA has selected the next design of its VTOL X-Plane, a crazy UAV with 24 ducted fans, a 4,000-hp engine, and the ability to hit speeds up to 460 mph.

DARPA is cross-pollinating a helicopter and a plane for its vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Experimental Plane program, also known as the VTOL X-Plane.

DARPA's new VTOL Experimental Plane has been designed to fly at speeds of up to 400 knots while also having the agility to hover and even fly backwards if it needed to.