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 Compass Cope program was an effort by the United States Air Force in 1971 to create a drone that could take off and land like a manned aircraft, fly at high altitudes for up to 24 hours, and perform tasks such as surveillance, communications relay, or atmospheric sampling.