Post date: May 07, 2013 6:11:56 PM
The US Navy's first sea-based, unmanned attack aircraft has passed its first arrested landing test, ahead of sea trials expected later this year.
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES(MAY 4, 2013) (NORTHROP GRUMMAN) - The latest test of the X-47B brings a new era of autonomous, sea-based warfare a step closer to reality.
Conducted on Saturday (May 4) at the Navy's shore-based complex at Patuxent River, Maryland, it was the first arrested landing by a Navy unmanned aircraft.The US Navy and engineers at Northrop Grumman who designed and built the drone, have high hopes for the vehicle when it is fully tested from an aircraft carrier at sea later this month.
During an arrested landing, the incoming aircraft extends its landing hook to catch a heavy cable extended across the aircraft landing area. The tension in the wire brings the aircraft to a rapid and controlled stop.
In the test, the X-47B used a navigation approach that closely resembles the technique it will use to land on an aircraft carrier underway at sea.
The X-47B is the first pilotless aircraft designed to take-off and land from an aircraft carrier at sea and carry out pre-programmed missions autonomously. Take-off, landing, in-flight refuelling and the deployment of weapons is controlled by a computer programme run by operators on the ground. Inflight alterations to pre-programmed instructions are made with the click of a computer mouse.
Flight testing began at Edwards Air Force Base in February, 2011. Northrop Grumman says that during multiple flights since then, the X-47B has reached altitudes exceeding 15,000 feet.
The X-47B program is intended to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a sea-based unmanned combat aircraft to conduct surveillance and strike missions within a radius of 1500 nautical miles (2778 km).