Aircraft

X-47B makes historic carrier launching

X-47B makes historic carrier launching
X-47B flies over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Alan Radecki)
X-47B flies over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Alan Radecki)
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An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is loaded onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tony D. Curtis)
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An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is loaded onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tony D. Curtis)
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy)
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USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy)
X-47B flies over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Alan Radecki)
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X-47B flies over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Alan Radecki)
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Naval aviation history was made today, as an autonomous unmanned aircraft took off from a US Navy nuclear aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia. The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) took to the air from the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and is part of a program to develop carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft capable of carrying out missions according to pre-programmed instructions rather than being under constant control by a ground-based pilot.

Launched from the Nimitz Class carrier at 11:18 AM (15:18 GMT) by steam catapult like an operational carrier-based aircraft, the X-47B was controlled by a mission operator aboard the Bush, but also operated autonomously for parts of the test. The drone executed several low-altitude carrier approaches to demonstrate its ability to operate in a carrier environment, then flew across Chesapeake Bay and landed at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, where it has spent the last year conducting shore-based tests.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy)
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (Photo: US Navy)

During the 65-minute test, the aircraft navigated in the carrier airspace, and control was successfully transferred from the carrier-based mission operator to a shore-based operator.

“Today we saw a small, but significant pixel in the future picture of our Navy as we begin integration of unmanned systems into arguably the most complex warfighting environment that exists today: the flight deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier,” said Vice Admiral David Buss, commander, Naval Air Forces, the Navy's “Air Boss."

The X-47B used today was one of two built by Northrop Grumman to demonstrate autonomous carrier operations, including launch, recovery and operations within 50 nautical miles (57.5 mi/92.6 km) of a carrier. One of the two test drones is designed to carry out in-flight refueling tests as well. The intention is that the technology developed for the X-47B will one day lead to autonomous unmanned carrier-based aircraft for surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat duty.

Further takeoff tests will be conducted over the coming weeks, and the X-47B will attempt its first true carrier landing at sea this summer.

Source: US Navy

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15 comments
15 comments
Two Replies
Launching is one thing (relatively easy). LANDING is a whole other story and MUCH harder with the ship (and deck) rolling with the wind and rising and falling with each trough and crest of every wave.
Robert Walther
Gosh! It is a shame the Navy didn't think of the problems about landing. Cancel the Program.
Slowburn
Given that high speed missiles can be flown into moving cars I don't think getting the drone to hit the right place on the carrier deck will prove to be an insurmountable obstacle.
S Michael
Landing on the calm sea and a pitching sea are two different things. They take up space on the AC so they will be limited to calm seas.
Bill Bennett
it has already been done cable arrested landing on land, no pilot on board means a more maneuverable aircraft, this is the future
StWils
Something like twenty years ago the Navy did some conceptual studies with actual physical tests for capturing a damaged aircraft. Essentially, think of a catchers mitt. Coupled with the normal catch lines this can accommodate any issues with landing. Not having a pilot on board should actually make the solution easier than with piloted aircraft.
Ron Evans
Hey Russia and China. Y'all perfect the landing so we can steal the knowhow from you and save billions. OK ???
Stephen N Russell
See 2005 movie STEALTH on DVD, shows similar UAV type then. Sci Fic becomes fact in such a small timeline 2005 to 2013
Slowburn
re; Stephen N Russell
There is huge difference between a drone that can perform some simple functions autonomously and an artificial intelligence that can choose to disobey orders.
Charlie Nudelman
Re:Ron Evans The russians can launch a Su 31 (equivalent to f15 ) from the Admiral Kutnesoff deck... Without catapult... Have also supersonics UAV (operationals... for almost 30 years) And were able to land a Space Shuttle autonomous 20 years ago... Yes... They can.... :)
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