Breaking news
X-47B UCAS conducts 100th flight from NAS Patuxent River.
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Naval
Forces News - USA |
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X-47B
UCAS conducts 100th flight from NAS Patuxent River |
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The US Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator
safely conducted its 100th flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River,
Md.on September 18 2013. The Navy UCAS program successfully completed
all objectives for the carrier demonstration phase with the X-47B in
July. |
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 X-47B in flight after first-ever catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush in May 2013. (Picture: US Navy) |
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During
three at-sea periods over eight months, the X-47B conducted a total
of 16 precision approaches to the carrier flight deck, including five
planned tests of X-47B wave-off functions, nine touch-and-go landings,
two arrested landings and three catapult launches. The program is currently
planning for continued carrier integration demonstrations and has also
begun surrogate Learjet testing of the autonomous aerial refueling (AAR)
capability, which promises to significantly increase the endurance and
range of carrier-based unmanned aircraft. Link to X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator technical datasheet |