Tuesday, August 19, 2014

UCAS-D Operating Next to F-18s Is Big News

Defense.gov News Article: Face of Defense: USS Roosevelt Conducts UAV Testing
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At Sea, Aug. 18, 2014 - The Navy's experimental unmanned X-47B air vehicle returned to carrier operations aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt Aug. 17 and completed a series of tests, operating safely and seamlessly with manned aircraft.

Building on lessons learned from its first test period aboard the Roosevelt in November 2013, the X-47B team is now focused on perfecting deck operations and performing maneuvers with manned aircraft in the flight pattern.
 
Unmanned Drones Landing Autonomously Next to F-18s Is a Very Big Deal
The days of piloted combat aircraft are quickly coming to an end, soon to be heavily augmented if not outright replaced by UCAS, or Unmanned Combat Air Systems. Just yesterday, the Navy's X-47B demonstrator proved that manned and unmanned operations can take place on the same flight deck.
The X-47B has already shown that is can take off and land autonomously aboard a roiling flight deck. During a series of trial flights aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt yesterday, Navy researchers examined whether the pilotless drone could reliably queue up and landing alongside conventional aircraft without colliding.







Navy conducts first series of drone and manned fighter jet operations - LA Times
"Today we showed that the X-47B could take off, land and fly in the carrier pattern with manned aircraft while maintaining normal flight deck operations," Capt. said Beau Duarte, program manager for the Navy's unmanned carrier aviation office, in a statement. "This is key for the future carrier air wing."

Unmanned Systems News 18/8/2014 - Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
"For this test period, we really focused on integration with manned aircraft," said Lt. Cmdr. Brian Hall, X-47B flight test director. "We re-engineered the tailhook retract actuator and updated operating software to expedite wingfold during taxi, both of which reduce time in the landing area post-recovery. Our goal was to minimize the time in the landing area and improve the flow with manned aircraft in the landing pattern."


X-47B Combined Manned/Unmanned Carrier Operations | Defense Media Network
“The X-47B’s air vehicle performance, testing efficiency and safety technologies and procedures developed and tested throughout the program’s execution have paved the way for the Navy’s future carrier-based unmanned system capability,” said Rear Adm. Mat Winter, who oversees the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons.

X-47B UCAS-D Northrop Grumman Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration US Navy United States UAV Drone Technical Datasheet Specification Pictures Images Video

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