It currently can stay aloft for 4 days but soon will soon stay up 10 days. While designed as a surveillance platform, it carries a 5 ton payload that includes Hellfire missiles. Flying at 65,000 feet - the very edge of space, it is just about out of range of missiles.

Boeing's New Spy Plane General Characteristics:

Wingspan :

150 ft. (46 m)

Takeoff gross weight :


9,800 lbs. (4,445 kg)

Cruise speed :


150 kts.

Maximum speed :


200 kts.

Altitude :


65,000 ft.

Engines :


(2) 2.3L 150 horsepower

Endurance :


4 days at 65,000 ft.

Let that sink in -

Wingspan equal to the width of a good size building lot.

It's relatively light (at 5 ton), slow, flies at twice the altitude of commercial transport.

It's powered by 2 truck engines and stays aloft for 4 days.

Now take a look:

http://video.boeing.com/servic...&bctid=1331877361001

GBT