Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman X-47B
Northrop Grumman
X-47B UCAS-D
Role
Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Technology demonstrator
National origin United States
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
First flight 4 February 2011
Primary user United States Navy
Number built 2
Developed from Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus
Developedinto Northrop Grumman X-47C
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History Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
X-47B UCAS-D
The US Navy did not commit to practical UCAS efforts until 2000, when it awarded contracts of US$2 million each to Boeing and Northrop Grumman for a 15-month concept-exploration program. Design considerations for a naval UCAV included dealing with the corrosive saltwater environment, deck handling for launch and recovery, command and control system integration, and operation in an aircraft carrier's high-electromagnetic-interference environment. The Navy was interested in using UCAVs for reconnaissance, to penetrate protected airspace and identify targets for follow-on attacks.
The first flight of the X-47B demonstrator, designated Air Vehicle 1 (AV-1), took place at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on 4 February 2011. It first flew in cruise configuration with its landing gear retracted on 30 September 2011. A second X-47B demonstrator, designated AV-2, conducted its maiden flight at Edwards Air Force Base on 22 November 2011
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None aboard
Northrop Grumman
X-47B UCAS-D
Photo Gallery
Northrop Grumman Aircraft
Northrop Grumman
X-47B UCAS-D
Program Cost
Crew: None aboard (semi-autonomous operation)
Length: 38 ft 2 in (11.63 m)
Wingspan: 62.1 ft (18.9 m) extended; 30.9 ft (9.4 m) folded
Height: 10 ft 5 in (3.10 m)
Wing area: 953.6 sq ft (88.59 m2)
Production
Empty weight: 28,837 lb (13,080 kg) zero fuel weight
Max takeoff weight: (20,185 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F100-220U turbofan
Planned role in fleet
Range: 2,400 mi (3,900 km,
Service ceiling: (12,800 m
Cruise speed: Mach 0.9+ (high subsonic)
Potential related projects
Armament2 weapon bays, providing for up to 4,500 lb (2,000 kg) of ordnance
Avionics
Provisions for EO/IR/SAR/ISAR/GMTI/MMTI/ESM
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Links to Youtube & Others
The Navy used software from the X-47B to demonstrate unmanned aerial refueling capabilities. On 28 August 2013, a contractor-flown Learjet 25 refueled from a Boeing 707 tanker while flying autonomously as a surrogate aircraft uploaded with the X-47B's technology
Northrop GrummanX-47B UCAV Drone
The X-47B UCAS is designed to help the Navy explore the future of unmanned carrier aviation.
Youtube Link
The X-47B is a tailless, strike fighter-sized unmanned aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman as part of the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) Carrier Demonstration program.
Read more in Northrop Aviation
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