The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System arrived at Pax River early this morning after completing a yearlong test phase at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Personnel departed Edwards AFB last month with the X-47B loaded on a truck for transport cross-country.

“The transition to Pax River is a highlight for the program,” said Capt. Jaimie Engdahl, Navy UCAS program manager. “We are working toward demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to operate on and around an aircraft carrier.”

The X-47B is a tailless, autonomous, unmanned aircraft that Northrop Grumman is developing and testing for the Navy’s UCAS Demonstration program. X-47B is the first fixed-wing unmanned system designed to operate from a Navy aircraft carrier.

The Navy and Northrop Grumman conducted first flight of the X-47B in February 2011 at Edwards AFB. Since then, the aircraft has undergone a series of flight tests demonstrating its performance under a variety of conditions.

The combined Navy/industry UCAS-D team will conduct shore-based carrier suitability tests at Pax River in 2012. Tests will verify the X-47B’s ability to communicate with the aircraft carrier and to operate safely and effectively with the ship’s catapult and arresting gear.

Testing at Pax River will be conducted following stringent flight safety procedures and will be conducted within restricted airspace. The first X-47B flight at Pax River is planned for spring 2012. A second X-47B aircraft is also scheduled to arrive early next year.

Mission

The mission of the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) Aircraft Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) is to mature technologies for a carrier suitable, low observable relevant, unmanned air system in support of a potential follow-on acquisition milestone for an unmanned air system capable of providing persistent, penetrating surveillance, and penetrating strike capability in high threat areas. The X-47B made a successful first flight on February 4, 2011 at Edwards AFB. 


Description

The Navy UCAS program will evolve technologies required to conduct Launch, Recovery, and Carrier Controlled Airspace operations and Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) of an LO platform. The Navy plans to:

  • Achieve UCAS CV demonstration
  • Achieve probe & drogue (US Navy style) and boom/receptacle (US Air Force style) AAR demonstration with an unmanned platform
  • Evaluate and identify technologies supporting future Naval Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and strike capability requirements

In the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review, the Navy was directed to restructure the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) program and develop an unmanned, longer-range carrier-based aircraft capable of being air-refueled to provide greater aircraft carrier standoff capability, to expand payload and launch options, and to increase naval reach and persistence. The primary goal is risk reduction for carrier integration and maturation of critical technologies, while developing the critical data necessary to support a potential acquisition milestone decision.


Specifications

Overall Length: 38.2 feet
Wingspan: 62.1 Feet
Height: 10.4 feet
Aircraft Carrier Takeoff Gross Weight: approximately 44,500 pounds

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