Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector just unveiled its operational system concept for a naval unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV-N) designed to fly surveillance, strike and suppression-of-enemy-air-defense missions from an aircraft carrier.

The concept represents Northrop Grumman's participation in an emerging government competition to develop and demonstrate UCAVs that could perform U.S. Navy and Air Force missions. The development work will take place in the El Segundo (CA) Air Combat Systems business area of the company's Integrated Systems sector.

The concept combines the "kite" aerodynamic shape successfully demonstrated by the company's tailless X-47A Pegasus experimental unmanned vehicle (above) with a 'Northrop-trademark' "flying wing" shape. The kite design enables efficient integration of propulsion and weapons, while the wing extensions provide aerodynamic efficiency. The air vehicle design (below) also provides long endurance, high survivability; and the low-speed, aerodynamic flying qualities and precision landing capabilities required for autonomous launch and recovery operations from a carrier.

Northrop Grumman is currently conducting technology and risk-reduction studies under Phase IIA of the UCAV-N program managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Navy. "This operational UCAV-N concept meets all naval UCAV requirements while leveraging the company's unmatched experience in unmanned systems, precision strike, electronic warfare and low observable or stealth technologies," said Randy Secor, Northrop Grumman's UCAV-N program manager. "Our design also has the flexibility to meet Air Force requirements in the government's emerging joint UCAV
program."

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com