The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first at-sea test phase aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Dec. 18.
The first aircraft of its kind aboard a Naval vessel, the X-47B was put through myriad trials designed to assess the viability of an unmanned system’s operation aboard a carrier.
Among the multitude of tests, the X-47B was towed using carrier-based tractors, taxied on the flight deck via its arm-mounted control display unit (CDU), and had its digital engine controls tested within environments pervaded by electromagnetic fields.
“The system has performed outstandingly,” said Don Blottenberger, program manager for the N-UCAS Program Office (PMA-268). “We’ve learned a lot about the environment that we’re in and how compatible the aircraft is with a carrier’s flight deck, hangar bays and communication systems.”
“We validated our capabilities on an aircraft carrier,” said Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman’s program director. “We gained a lot of knowledge that we could never have gotten anywhere else except on a carrier. It was perfect for the team. We demonstrated the program’s maturity and our team’s ability to interact with Sailors and the ship, which was one of the most important things for us to do.”
Mackey said data collected from the aircraft’s performance throughout its two-week test period aboard Truman will contribute to future unmanned aviation programs.
Although the X-47B, as a demonstration aircraft, will never be put into production, Blottenberger said Sailors may one day see similar aircraft aboard ships.
“There are a lot of people aboard Truman that will take this experience with them,” said Blottenberger. “I think that all of this interest will help different programs both manned and unmanned. Hopefully, its impact will benefit future technologies.”
Sailors aboard Truman were offered worki
