Its low sweep wing reduces drag and weight; the embedded engines sit aft of the wings.

Vibrating in the wind, the bristles create some drag. But they also reduce the wing's slipstream, an area of low-pressure turbulence that pulls back on the wing, and hence reduce drag.

This efficiency is due largely to the innovative design of the low-drag wing. This design includes leading-edge slats, double-slotted Fowler flaps, and high-Mach blended winglets.