Back in 1999, the U.S. Air Force came this close to flying what we’d now call a 6th-generation stealth fighter. Yeah, two decades before NGAD even became a buzzword. It was called the X-44 MANTA, and on paper, it could’ve changed everything — a tailless, highly maneuverable, almost alien-looking jet that made the F-22 seem conservative. And yet… it never left the drawing board. So what happened? Why did the Air Force walk away from a fighter that looked like it belonged in 2030 — and why does it feel like we’re finally seeing its ghost in today’s 6th-generation programs? Let's dig in.