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Pilot-less Aircraft X-47B Makes Its First Catapult Take-Off [Video]

Matt Sabs — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:06:34 +0000

Last Thursday, the U.S. Navy completed their first steam launch catapult with the X-47B pilot-less aircraft. The same catapult system is what will help this aircraft take off from aircraft carriers in the middle of the ocean.

After watching the video (below), it seems like the ground controllers were very happy with the successful launch. In addition, for a pilot-less aircraft, the X-47B took off and landed flawlessly.

Take a look:

Un-manned aircraft and drones have become very popular in the military. Now that they can successfully take-off and land with the aid of slingshots, the sky (and ocean) is the limit for drones.

The X-47B has a wingspan of 62 feet, is only 10 feet tall,and weighs 14,000 lb (6,350 kg). The X-47B also has a cruising speed of 0.45 mach (342 mph), a range of just under 4,000 kilometers, and a service ceiling of 40,000ft.

The X-47B will make its first sea trials aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. Sometime in 2013, the U.S. Navy plans to catapult and recover the prototype aboard aircraft carriers.

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Northrop Grumman En Route to Unmanned Fighter Jets, Aerial Refuelling

Raggy Jin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:54:07 +0000

The unmanned aircraft sector seems to be coming of age in the U.S. military: This year’s announcement of the tiny “Hummingbird,” a tailless flying machine capable of reconnaissance and espionage, is now being followed up by Northrop Grumman’s contract to build two X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System fighter crafts for the U.S. Navy. The first of the two planes has already successfully undergone its first three test flights, showing it’s capable of 7,500-foot altitudes and speeds of 200 knots (370 km/h). The other, referred to as the AV-2, is undergoing stress tests in the California assembly plant, where the craft’s already proven its ability to withstand taxing combat maneuvers and the forces involved in using an aircraft carrier as a runway.

“The proof tests validate the structural design of the aircraft, and give us confidence that we can operate this plane safely and reliably in all anticipated carrier environments,” said Janis Pamiljans, vice president of the Navy UCAS program for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector, in a statement earlier this week.

“In particular, we now know that AV-2 can handle the stresses, strains and dynamic loads associated with catapult launches and arrested landings on the carrier deck, and air-to-air refueling.” Though both of the crafts are built identically, the AV-2 will be fitted with aerial refuelling equipment. A lot of testing stands between now and the day they see use in the field, but Northrop Grumman plans to demonstrate an unmanned take-off from an aircraft carrier in 2013 and unmanned aerial refuelling in 2014.

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X-47B unmanned stealth bomber drones first flight

Bob Bounila — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:47:54 +0000

Edwards Air Force Base was the site for the successful first flight of the X-47B unmanned stealth bomber. Yes, the stealth bomber is now operating without a human pilot. As scary as this sounds, the bomber didn’t have a payload, and it all ended well after nearly 30 minutes of 5,000 foot airobatical testing. It landed safely at 2:38PM PST and saw no sign of going missing. The plan is to get this on and off US Navy carriers, which is expected to be in official test stages closer to 2013. Check out the video for some unmanned stealth bomber action.

Northrop Grumman-built U.S. Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Aircraft Completes Historic First Flight
First-of-its-Kind, Tailless Aircraft Moves Closer to Carrier Trials in 2013
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Feb. 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)-built U.S. Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft successfully completed its historic first flight at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), Calif.

Conducted by a U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman test team, the flight took off at 2:09 p.m. PST and lasted 29 minutes. This event marks a critical step in the program, moving the team forward to meet the demonstration objectives of a tailless fighter-sized unmanned aircraft to safely take off from and land on the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

A social media version of this release that includes photos, video clips, and additional quotes and background material, is available at http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=209544

“First flight represents the compilation of numerous tests to validate the airworthiness of the aircraft, and the robustness and reliability of the software that allows it to operate as an autonomous system and eventually have the ability to take-off and land aboard an aircraft carrier,” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, the Navy’s UCAS-D program manager.

Northrop Grumman is the Navy’s UCAS-D prime contractor and leader of the UCAS-D industry team.

“Designing a tailless, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft from a clean sheet is no small feat,” said Janis Pamiljans, vice president and UCAS-D program manager for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector. “Commitment, collaboration and uncompromising technical excellence among the Navy, Northrop Grumman and the UCAS-D team industry partners made today’s flight a reality. We are indeed honored to have given wings to the Navy’s vision for exploring unmanned carrier aviation.”

Taking off under hazy skies, the X-47B climbed to an altitude of 5,000 feet, flew several racetrack-type patterns, and landed safely at 2:38 p.m. PST. The flight provided test data to verify and validate system software for guidance and navigation, and the aerodynamic control of the tailless design.

As with all test programs, first flight represents the culmination, verification and certification of pre-flight system data collected and analyzed by both the Navy and Northrop Grumman. Airframe proof load tests, propulsion system accelerated mission tests, software maturity and reliability simulations, full system taxi tests, and numerous other system test activities were all completed and certified prior to first flight.

The aircraft will remain at Edwards AFB for flight envelope expansion before transitioning to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., later this year. There, the system will undergo additional tests to validate its readiness to begin testing in the maritime and carrier environment. The UCAS-D program is preparing the X-47B for carrier trials in 2013.

The Navy awarded the UCAS-D prime contract to Northrop Grumman in August 2007. The six-year contract calls for the development of two X-47B fighter-sized aircraft. The program will demonstrate the first-ever carrier launches and recoveries by an autonomous, unmanned aircraft with a low-observable-relevant planform. Autonomous aerial refueling will also be performed after carrier integration and at-sea trials.

Northrop Grumman’s industry team includes GKN Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, Eaton, GE, Hamilton Sundstrand, Dell, Honeywell, Goodrich, Moog, Wind River, Parker Aerospace and Rockwell Collins.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

[Northrop Grumman]

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