Compass Cope was a program initiated by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1971 to develop an upgraded reconnaissance drone that could take off and land from a runway like a manned aircraft, and operate at high altitudes for up to 24 hours to perform surveillance, communications relay, or atmospheric sampling.
The United States Air Force launched Compass Cope in 1971 to create a new type of reconnaissance drone capable of taking off and landing on runways like a plane, flying at high altitudes for up to 24 hours, and performing tasks such as surveillance, communications relay, or atmospheric sampling.