Navy Claims Another Milestone toward X-47B Carrier Landing | Aviation International News

Navy Claims Another Milestone toward X-47B Carrier Landing

The U.S.

The Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstration aircraft is making progress toward its first carrier landing, scheduled for 2013. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)

July 18, 2011

The U.S. Navy stepped closer to the first carrier landing of an autonomous, unmanned aircraft following the July 2 carrier touchdown of a manned F/A-18D surrogate aircraft. It is equipped with the same avionics and software planned for the Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft. The X-47B made its first flight on February 4 this year, and its first carrier landing is scheduled for 2013.

The recent surrogate test involved several launches and recoveries from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, at sea in the western Atlantic off Virginia. The challenge was to automate flight procedures and communications between the aircraft and ship, traditionally performed visually and by voice communications between pilots and air operations personnel on final approach.

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