Wed, Sep 24, 2003
'Competent and Nasty' is Next-Gen UCAV Promise
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector has
announced that Pratt & Whitney has joined the Northrop
Grumman-led team competing for the Department of Defense's joint
unmanned combat air system (J-UCAS) program.
The addition of Pratt & Whitney strengthens Northrop
Grumman's efforts to design, develop and produce an unmanned combat
air system that satisfies the operational requirements of both the
U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.
Northrop Grumman will
produce two full-scale X-47B (-A model shown) unmanned combat air
vehicle (UCAV) demonstrators for the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) under phase IIB of the naval UCAV
technology demonstration program that preceded the J-UCAS
program.
Pratt & Whitney will provide an integrated, advanced
performance propulsion system for the X-47B demonstrators, which
will address Navy and Air Force objectives. The company joins
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. as a key member of Northrop
Grumman's J-UCAS industry team.
"Pratt & Whitney's expertise in military aircraft engines
adds another element of technical innovation to our J-UCAS team,"
said Scott Winship, Integrated Systems' J-UCAS program
director. "Our three companies are already working together
successfully on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. We will
leverage that experience for DARPA, the Air Force and the
Navy."
"Pratt & Whitney is excited about working again with
Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin," said Kevin Farrell, general
manager for Pratt & Whitney's J-UCAS effort. "We are confident
that innovative approaches to integrating vehicle power and thermal
management systems will offer significant benefits to the J-UCAS
program."
On October 1, the Department of Defense plans to stand up a
Joint Systems Management Office led by DARPA to manage the new
J-UCAS program.
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