New U.S. stealth drone can stay airborne 24 hours

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force's new unmanned stealth drone is capable of flying for up to 24 hours behind enemy lines, military sources told CNN.

The drone, with evasive flying capabilities, was first revealed in the magazine Aviation Week and Space Technology, It will offer the United States a critical stealth advantage to spy on countries with strong air defense systems, CNN reported Thursday.

"This aircraft will be able to penetrate (the) border and conduct operations in and around an enemy, without being targeted," said Amy Butler, co-author of the Aviation Week article.

CNN reported several U.S. officials said the drone also has intelligence-gathering capabilities superior to a less-sophisticated drone used in Iran in 2012.

The magazine said the new drone could be operational by 2015.