Fastest uncrewed aircraft

What to remember

On 22 April 2010, an uncrewed craft was released in flight and went on to reach 21,245 km/h (13,201 mph). That day the HTV-2 Falcon, an air-launched hypersonic glider, became the fastest uncrewed aerial vehicle.

Its flight profile sets it apart from ordinary aircraft: it is launched from the air, then glides at hypersonic speed.

Airspeed records follow rules set by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which splits aircraft into classes and sub-divisions by type, weight and engine.