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3 September 2008
Northrop Grumman is on track for the first flight of its Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator for the US Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.
The first of two X-47B carrier demonstration system air vehicles is well over 50 percent complete and ahead of its build schedule, enabling this first flight in November 2009, just over 24 months from initial contract award.
The X-47B UCAS-D will be the first unmanned tailless jet to land aboard a carrier. The flight test programme will include catapult launch and arrested landings from the carrier, autonomous carrier control area operations, and precise movement of X-47B aircraft on the carrier flight deck. The first carrier landing and subsequent sea trials are planned to begin in November 2011.
"The UCAS-D programme will establish the feasibility of operating stealthy autonomous unmanned aircraft from aircraft carriers, enabling the Navy to project a highly survivable and persistent surveillance and attack presence from anywhere to anywhere on the globe,'' said Scott Winship, Northrop Grumman vice president and UCAS-D programme manager.
The X-47 UCAS-D industry team includes Lockheed Martin, GKN and Pratt & Whitney. The Navy awarded the UCAS-D contract to Northrop Grumman in August 2007.
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