It was intended to test the feasibility of full yaw, pitch and roll authority without tailplanes (horizontal or vertical).

[1] The aircraft design was derived from the F-22 Raptor and featured a stretched delta wing without tail surfaces.

NASA planners stated that developing technologies for the X-44 could have application to the F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter programs and commercial supersonic ventures.

Yaw, pitch and roll authority would be accomplished through thrust-vectoring, possibly by modifying the extant 2-D vectoring nozzles of the F-22.

The MANTA was designed to have reduced mechanical complexity, increased fuel efficiency and greater agility.