Northrop X-47B UCAS undergoing system checks | Aviation International News

Northrop X-47B UCAS undergoing system checks

Northrop Grumman’s X-47B UCAS-D carrier-borne unmanned combat air system demonstrator is currently undergoing sub-system checks before final assembly for a

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

July 14, 2008

Northrop Grumman’s X-47B UCAS-D carrier-borne unmanned combat air system demonstrator is currently undergoing sub-system checks before final assembly for a first flight date in November next year. Having been developed at El Segundo, the first X-47B (AV-1) is now at Palmdale, California, where the vehicle’s centerbody/inner wing structure is essentially complete.

The X-47B is a U.S. Navy program to demonstrate the use of an unmanned, tailless aircraft for carrier-borne operations. There are many challenges involved, such as the catapult launch when the vehicle has to rapidly transition between flight modes. The UCAS-D has to fit into carrier patterns and be capable of being waved off (go round) on command from any of a number of controllers, from the landing signals officer to the combat control center.

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