Popular Mechanics magazine has named the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) Program’s X-47B aircraft as one of its 2013 Breakthrough Award recipients in an Oct. 9 announcement.
According to Popular Mechanics, the X-47B is the first U.S. Navy product or program to be recognized since the awards began in 2005.
Navy UCAS Program Manager Capt. Jaime Engdahl said he was thrilled to hear of the award. “Now that we’ve demonstrated we can successfully launch, maneuver and land a large, tailless, unmanned aircraft onto an aircraft carrier, we’ve proven that the technologies and concept of operations are effective,” Engdahl said. “The entire team is honored to be recognized with this award. It’s exciting and quite unique to have an organization such as Popular Mechanics recognize our efforts and capabilities.”
Part of the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, the UCAS-D team comprises Navy and industry partners. The X-47B and UCAS-D program made U.S. Navy history in 2013 with its first catapult launches, touch-and-goes
