Wed, Oct 12, 2011
'Envelope Expansion' Program Underway For Carrier-Based
UAS
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft
reached a major milestone September 30 when it retracted its
landing gear and flew in its cruise configuration for the first
time. The flight, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, also helped
validate precision navigation hardware and software that will allow
the X-47B to land with precision on the moving deck of an aircraft
carrier.
"(The) flight gave us our first clean look at the aerodynamic
cruise performance of the X-47B air system...and it is proving out
all of our predictions," said Janis Pamiljans, vice president and
Navy UCAS program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems
sector. "Reaching this critical test point demonstrates the growing
maturity of the air system, and its readiness to move to the next
phase of flight testing."
The recent flight was part of an on-going "envelope expansion"
program for the first of two X-47B aircraft produced by Northrop
Grumman for the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier
Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. Envelope expansion flights are used
to demonstrate aircraft performance under a variety of altitude,
speed and fuel load conditions.
The UCAS-D program plans to begin transitioning aircraft to
Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD. in late 2011 to begin
shore-based carrier suitability testing in 2012. The focal point of
the program is to demonstrate in 2013 the first aircraft carrier
launches and recoveries by a tailless, low-observable-relevant
unmanned system.
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