US Navy's Unmanned Combat Aircraft System (UCAS) demonstrator X-47B has entered its last flight test phase, the unmanned aerial refu...
US Navy's Unmanned Combat Aircraft System (UCAS) demonstrator X-47B has entered its last flight test phase, the unmanned aerial refueling, before winding up the program which proved the basic concept of an unmanned naval stealth fighter jet.
On Wednesday, the X-47B successfully engaged the refueling drogue of an Omega K-707 tanker for the first time over Chesapeake bay, Maryland. The dry contact mission proved the engagement concept and did not involved any fuel transfer.
The X-47B will conduct three airborne refueling tests before it shuts down. So far the X-47B has proved the concept of a carrier-based jet that can take off and land on a moving aircraft carrier, integrate into the ship's operation and space, and formation flight with manned jets.
The technologies matured and developed through the X-47B program will be the foundation of US Navy's next-generation Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveilance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft, which is scheduled for maiden flight in early 2020s.
The X-47B inherits the Northrop Grumman DNA featuring the bat wing tail less design like the B-2 Bomber. The stealthy drone is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney's F100-PW-220U engine rated at 16000 pounds of thrust.
