Northrop Grumman X-47B UCAS-D

[Matej]

Navy Advances Plan for New Carrier Launched UAV Surveillance and Strike System

The Navy last week plunked down $2 million to advance its vision of a next-generation unmanned aircraft optimized for aircraft-carrier operations, launching a preliminary competition in a program that promises to become a big-ticket Pentagon acquisition: the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike system.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So is this X-47B? Some other system?

Competition is the keyword. While X-47B seems to be highly preferred, there is also General Atomics Avenger or Phantom Ray.

 

[flateric]

damn brave pilots these are...my hat off

Navy UCAS-D Achieves Milestone aboard Eisenhower


Story Number: NNS110705-06 Release Date: 7/5/2011 12:11:00 PM 1 Comment By Naval Air Systems Command Public Affairs


PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- A team from the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program office (PMA-268) accomplished the first carrier touchdown of an F/A-18D surrogate aircraft, emulating an unmanned vehicle, using systems developed as part of the Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program on July 2.


The test, conducted on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), means the Navy is one step closer to demonstrating the first carrier-based recoveries and launches of an autonomous, low-observable relevant unmanned aircraft.


"What we saw here today is cutting edge technology for integrating digital control of autonomous carrier aircraft operations, and most importantly, the capability to automatically land an unmanned air system aboard an aircraft carrier," said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, N-UCAS Program Manager. "Successfully landing and launching a surrogate aircraft allows us to look forward to demonstrating that a tailless, strike-fighter-sized unmanned system can operate safely in the carrier environment."


Demonstrating the UCAS-D system with a carrier-based aircraft, the F/A-18D, significantly reduces risk of landing an unmanned system aboard the ship for the first time. The F/A-18 surrogate aircraft, provided by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, is controlled with actual avionics and software that are being incorporated on X-47B UCAS-D aircraft.


"Surrogate testing allows us to evaluate ship systems, avionics systems, and early versions of the unmanned vehicle software with a pilot in the loop for safety," said Glenn Colby, team lead for UCAS-D Aviation/Ship Integration. "With this we can verify our interfaces and functionality while minimizing the risk to an unmanned vehicle."


Along with the F/A-18, the test team employed a King Air surrogate aircraft operated by Air-Tec, Inc. According to Colby, the King Air gives the team a low-cost test bed to evaluate the ability of the UCAS-D avionics and ship systems to properly adhere to existing carrier operations procedures. PMA-268 is using the King Air to test all of the system functionality that does not require actually landing on the ship.


"The most important thing we have done is adapted the ship's systems to handle a vehicle without a pilot, then seamlessly integrated it into carrier operations," said Rob Fox, UCAS-D Aviation/Ship Integration deputy team lead. "We're using both current aircraft carrier hardware and software systems and processes, and introducing new systems and processes to accommodate an unmanned system."


The vast majority of today's carrier flight operations are flown manually and visually by Naval Aviators. The pilot gives the ship information about the aircraft over the radio; all air traffic control instructions are by voice and even a good portion of navigation data has to be read over the air by the ship. The purpose of the UCAS-D integration effort is to digitize the communications and navigation information flow to incorporate capabilities required for UAS flight operations aboard a carrier, with minimal impact to existing hardware, training and procedures.


"This test period shows us very clearly that the carrier segment hardware and software, and the Precision Global Positioning System (PGPS) landing technologies are mature and ready to support actual unmanned operations with the X-47B," said Engdahl.


To support an autonomous vehicle, PMA-268 has modified shipboard equipment so that the UCAS-D X-47B air vehicle, mission operator and ship operators are on the same digital network. For current fleet aircraft, the Landing Signal Officer (LSO), who is charged with safe recovery of aircraft aboard the ship, uses voice commands and visual signals to communicate with a pilot on final approach. Since a UAS cannot reliably respond to voice and visual signals, the LSO's equipment communicates directly with the aircraft through the digital network via a highly reliable interface. Similar digital communication capability has been integrated with the ship's primary flight control ("tower") and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) facilities.


Most importantly, the UAS operator's equipment, installed in one of the carrier's ready rooms, is integrated with the very same network.


In addition to communications, an unmanned system requires highly precise and reliable navigation to operate around the ship. This first arrested landing of the F/A-18D surrogate aircraft aboard the Eisenhower was enabled by integrating Precision Global Positioning System (PGPS) capabilities into the ship and the aircraft.


According to Engdahl, these tests demonstrate that PGPS landing technologies and the carrier segment hardware and software are mature and ready to support actual unmanned operations with the X-47B. In addition, these capabilities have the potential to make manned aircraft operations safer and more efficient.


"Our team has worked vigorously over the past five years to modify and develop systems required to operate unmanned aircraft around and aboard a carrier," said Adam Anderson, team lead for UCAS-D Aviation/Ship Integration System Build, who has worked on the program since 2006. "This was a very complex and challenging task that required innovative, hard-working and dedicated individuals to get the job done."


The first experiments supporting unmanned carrier operations were conducted in 2002 followed by at-sea testing of a King Air in 2005. With the basic concept proven, the UCAS-D team began the detailed design of the carrier integration in 2007. The PMA-268/NAVAIR team worked closely with experts from PEO (Carriers) and the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to determine the details of system installation on a carrier, while working to minimize impact to ongoing missions and capabilities aboard the ship. Initial capability of the ship equipment was verified in January 2010 during testing aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.


In fall 2010, ship modifications began on the Eisenhower. The UCAS-D team worked closely with ship's company personnel to lessen disruption to other activities required for normal operations and maintenance of the ship. Initial surrogate testing took place during the ship's sea trials the week of June 13, which validated the system's readiness for carrier landings.


"This was truly a team effort with our industry partners, including Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, Honeywell, L-3 Communications, SAIC, ARINC and Sierra Nevada Corporation, PEO Carriers, NAVSEA and, of course, the crew of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower," Engdahl added. "The exceptional support and collaboration of the entire team has set us up very well to achieve our ultimate milestone –autonomous landing of an actual unmanned, low-observable relevant aircraft on the aircraft carrier in 2013."


The UCAS-D program continues ship integration and X-47B flight test activities in preparation for sea trials in 2013. Flight testing is underway at Edwards Air Force Base and will transition to Pax River later this year.


For more news from Naval Air Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navair/.

 

[sublight]

If the UCAS gets the third wire 100% of the time, I wonder if they'll get rid of the 1st and 2nd wire at some point.....

 

[InvisibleDefender]

damn brave pilots these are...my hat off

[/color]

...yawn... JSF did that back in 2001 with the VAAC Harrier on the HMS Invincible

http://www2.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/news_releases_homepage/2004/3rd_quarter/qinetiq_makes_strides.html

 

[flanker]

 

[InvisibleDefender]

It's only a model. Looks like the AUVSI down by pax

 

[Mat Parry]

damn brave pilots these are...my hat off

...yawn... JSF did that back in 2001 with the VAAC Harrier on the HMS Invincible

http://www2.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/news_releases_homepage/2004/3rd_quarter/qinetiq_makes_strides.html

I dunno, to me a vertical autolanding in a harrier wouldn't require the same level of bravery as leaving HAL 9000 to catch the 3rd wire in a F/A-18D

 

[seruriermarshal]

Gear Up! U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman X-47B Demonstrator Flies in Cruise Mode for First Time

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft reached a major milestone Sept. 30 when it retracted its landing gear and flew in its cruise configuration for the first time.
The flight, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, also helped validate precision navigation hardware and software that will allow the X-47B to land with precision on the moving deck of an aircraft carrier.
Photos from the recent flight can be obtained at [url=http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=10802]http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=10802[/url]
"Last week's flight gave us our first clean look at the aerodynamic cruise performance of the X-47B air system…and it is proving out all of our predictions," said Janis Pamiljans, vice president and Navy UCAS program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Reaching this critical test point demonstrates the growing maturity of the air system, and its readiness to move to the next phase of flight testing."
The recent flight was part of an on-going "envelope expansion" program for the first of two X-47B aircraft produced by Northrop Grumman for the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. Envelope expansion flights are used to demonstrate aircraft performance under a variety of altitude, speed and fuel load conditions.
The UCAS-D program plans to begin transitioning aircraft to Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md. in late 2011 to begin shore-based carrier suitability testing in 2012. The focal point of the program is to demonstrate in 2013 the first aircraft carrier launches and recoveries by a tailless, low-observable-relevant unmanned system.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit [url=http://www.northropgrumman.com/]www.northropgrumman.com[/url] for more information.

 

[AAAdrone]

Going from landing an F/A-18 to flying in cruise mode with landing gear retracted just goes to show how far this project has come. I'm really looking forward to eventually seeing a real UCAS being fielded as a result of this demonstrator.

 

[sferrin]

Going from landing an F/A-18 to flying in cruise mode with landing gear retracted just goes to show how far this project has come.

So they went from flying with gear down to flying with gear up and "just goes to show how far this project has come". Really? How far we have fallen.

 

[Mat Parry]

Photos from the recent flight can be obtained at [url=http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=10802]http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=10802[/url]

stand by for a swarm of UFO sightings

 

[AAAdrone]

Going from landing an F/A-18 to flying in cruise mode with landing gear retracted just goes to show how far this project has come.

So they went from flying with gear down to flying with gear up and "just goes to show how far this project has come". Really? How far we have fallen.

I made a serious overstatement. I must have overreacted at how this project is progressing smoothly considering all of the issues and cost overruns other projects have been having. Although, considering the F-35 is a much larger project I guess my comment was even less logical after all.

 

[Deino]

A nice X-47B video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCYrpfQ2xCg&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

 

[seruriermarshal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_PxXNREgg

 

[doolyii]

Is there any decent cutaway drawings of X-47B?

 

[flateric]

-

 

[Creative]

Didn't see these here so I thought I would add them. Northrop Grumman photos.

 

[seruriermarshal]

Increased Test Productivity Lifts Off With First Flight of Second Northrop Grumman-Built X-47B Unmanned Aircraft

http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=239278

 

[flateric]

Rear Adm. Bill Shannon, program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, addresses the crowd during a Feb. 2 ceremony marking the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator's transition to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for the next phase of flight testing. The X-47B is the first fixed wing, tailess unmanned system designed to operate from a Navy aircraft carrier underway at sea. Its ability to be launched from a carrier, as well as its recovery, will be demonstrated next year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nbworX0hqo

 

[seruriermarshal]

X-47B

 

[flanker]

Nice! No high res tho? 1/72 model is due to be out soon iirc...

 

[flateric]

Nice! No high res tho?

not yet
http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.PhotoGalleryDetail&key=97F3D162-1B69-4B0E-9BA3-7D89E0C4B278

 

[sferrin]

With basic tweaks.

 

[hesham]

Hi.

 

[flateric]

https://wiki.nps.edu/download/attachments/56262761/UCAS-D+Overview+For+NPS+CRUSER+120222.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1329849302000

 

[flateric]

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5020

(PROCEED TO THE LINK TO GET TWO NEW HI-RES PICS OF X-47B)

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – It was not an ordinary morning at Pax River when a large flatbed truck hauling the fighter-sized X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) entered through the naval air station’s gate.


Navy and Northrop Grumman personnel welcomed the second X-47B, known as Air Vehicle (AV) 2, June 14 after its cross-country drive from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where the aircraft spent the past six months completing initial flight tests.


“Our initial test phase at Edwards Air Force Base was very successful, and I am confident we will see the same success at Pax River as we prepare for shore-based carrier suitability tests in the fall,” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Navy UCAS program manager.


Engdahl said he was impressed with AV-2’s performance at Edwards and although it was the second aircraft to fly, it achieved several significant firsts for what he refers to as “Team UCAS.” On a single day in May, AV-2 flew two consecutive flights; completed a heavy-weight landing; reached a high-speed test point; and completed a touch-and-go for the first time.


AV-2 is identical to its sister aircraft, except it incorporates the hardware required to perform autonomous aerial refueling (AAR), a technology the UCAS-D team has been developing to fuel unmanned aircraft in flight.


The Navy UCAS program is a demonstration intended to identify and reduce technical risks associated with developing potential future unmanned, carrier-compatible systems. The program will also demonstrate an AAR capability, which has the potential to significantly increase the endurance and range of carrier-based unmanned aircraft.


(PHOTO) The second X-47B, known as Air Vehicle (AV) 2, arrives at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., June 14 after its cross-country drive from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. AV-2 is identical to its sister aircraft, which arrived at Pax on Dec. 20, except it incorporates the hardware required to perform autonomous aerial refueling (AAR), a technology the UCAS-D team has been developing to fuel unmanned aircraft in flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Steven Kays)

 

[GTX]

Speaking of which...have a laugh: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/18785637/beltway-ufo-said-to-be-military-drone-aircraft#ixzz1xmf9hZhr

 

[AeroFranz]

because the US government transports its alien spacecraft by eighteen-wheelers by day...

 

[flateric]

X-47B at Pax River

 

[seruriermarshal]

Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Conduct First East Coast Flight of X-47B Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft

Flight Adds Momentum to Team's Preparations for Carrier Suitability Testing

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., July 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator has successfully completed its historic first flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent (Pax) River.

Photos accompanying this release are available at http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=13836

The 36-minute flight – the first for the tailless, strike-fighter-sized aircraft since it was transported to the Navy base in June from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. – was successfully completed on July 29 at 11:36 a.m. Eastern time. It marks the first time a tactical unmanned aircraft has been fully integrated into the air traffic patterns and the command and control structure of the Pax River flight test complex.

"This flight of the X-47B is the first time an autonomous, carrier-capable unmanned system has flown at Pax River," said Carl Johnson, vice president and Navy UCAS program manager for Northrop Grumman. "It's also a major milestone for the program as the Navy/Northrop Grumman team prepares the aircraft to enter carrier suitability testing this fall, the last major phase of testing before we begin carrier trials in 2013."

Northrop Grumman is the Navy's prime contractor for the Navy's UCAS Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. The company designed and built two X-47B demonstrator aircraft for the program, which is managed by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).

During the flight, which comprised two precision racetrack patterns over the Chesapeake Bay, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 7,500 feet and a maximum air speed of 180 knots.

"This flight makes two critical points for the Northrop Grumman/Navy Integrated Test Team," said Daryl Martis, Northrop Grumman's X-47B test director. "It validates the performance of the aircraft demonstrated during its initial flight testing at Edwards, and it proves that we've successfully implemented the command and control structure required to operate the X-47B safely from Pax River."

Martis reported that the flight reconfirmed the aircraft's aerodynamic performance, and the performance of its propulsion and flush air data systems. Mission operators also confirmed that the aircraft responded correctly to commands from its onboard guidance, navigation and control system.

The team of mission operators for the first Pax River flight included Lt. Cmdr. Brian Loustaunau, U.S. Navy, NAVAIR's lead flight test project officer on the UCAS-D program.

"It's very significant to have a Navy mission operator fully integrated into test operations during the X-47B's first flight at Pax River," said Loustaunau. "The team is performing well and looking forward to our next phase of testing."

During the flight, the aircraft communicated with a shore-based version of the aircraft carrier systems that will help guide the X-47B to precision landings on the carrier deck, which are located in the Navy UCAS Aviation/Ship Integration Facility at Pax River.

In 2013, the UCAS-D program plans to demonstrate the ability of the X-47B to safely operate from a Navy aircraft carrier, including launch, recovery, and air traffic control operations. Those trials will be followed by a demonstration of autonomous aerial refueling in 2014. The program also plans to mature technologies required for potential future Navy unmanned air system programs. For the latest X-47B news and information, please visit www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/nucasx47b/.

Northrop Grumman's UCAS-D industry team includes GKN Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, Eaton, GE, Hamilton Sundstrand, Dell, Honeywell, Goodrich, Moog, Wind River, Parker Aerospace and Rockwell Collins.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=10000044

 

[Creative]

NG photo

 

[Creative]

Photo by Joe Cereghino. The person in the foreground is photographer Douglas Sonders who took photos of the X-47B for the August issue of Popular Science magazine http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-07/i-am-warplane?page=1

 

[Triton]

Is the Northrop Grumman X-47B UCAS-D operated aboard the aircraft carrier or a land base? What are the crewing requirements of the X-47B UCAS-D: Pilot, Sensor Operator, Flight Engineer etc. Do the workstations look similar to the Mobile Ground Control Station (MGCS) workstations used to operate the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator?

 

[Triton]

"A Twist of the Wrist -- How to Drive an X-47B"
Posted by Graham Warwick 7:26 AM on Aug 06, 2012

Standing off to one side at last week's press unveiling of the US Navy's X-47B unmanned combat aircraft system demonstrator at NAS Patuxent River was a guy with what looked like a Borg cybernetic implant on his arm.

In fact, it was the wireless hand controller for maneuvering the X-47B on the aircraft-carrier deck.

The battery-powered device uses an RF data link to control nosewheel steering, engine thrust, mainwheel brakes and tailhook, and provides a display, keys and lights to communicate aircraft status to the operator maneuvering the unmanned X-47B on the flight deck.

Initial deck handling trials are planned for this week on the ramp at Pax using air vehicle 2. The operator will stand directly behind the "yellow shirt" flight-deck director, both of them looking at the aircraft, and follow the director's hand signals to maneuver the X-47B.

Using the hand controller, the deck operator will maneuver the X-47B on to the catapult, run up the engine to tension the cat, initiate a control "wipe out" to check the flight-control surfaces are clear and indicate the aircraft is ready to launch, then hand over control to the mission operator below decks.

On landing, once the aircraft has caught the wire, sensed the deceleration and reduced the engine to idle, the deck controller with take command of the X-47B from the mission operator, raise the hook and maneuver the aircraft off the wire and out of the way of the next to land.

Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:3f3c892e-bc9a-47a8-99b9-1ecffdfd7acd

 

[Jemiba]

Think, I have seen this before :
(from http://www.ketzer.com/original_movie_props/6thday_helicopter_remote_control.html )

 

[secret]

Why are the spoilers spread out at level flight (while the A/C is trimmed at low AoA) conditions ?
As can be observed from the pictures and short films made published the spoilers are slightly spread out.

 

[Reaper]

I think the same reason, why the B-2 flies always with open split flaps: compensating low directional stability of those tailless designs!

 

[secret]

The X-45C doesn't employ them in level flight..., I think the polecat didn't either.

 

[aim9xray]

I think the same reason, why the B-2 flies always with open split flaps: compensating low directional stability of those tailless designs!

Not exactly. I had it explained to me that there was/is a control deadband caused by flow separation when the control surfaces are completely closed. The surfaces can have immediate aerodynamic effect when actuated while partially opened, since they are in "cleaner" airflow. Wing designs with more complete laminar flow would tend to obviate this issue, since flow separation is delayed to a point much further aft on the airfoil.

 

[Reaper]

You are right! Your reach higher effectiveness of the spoiler for directional stability, when it is already partly deployed and has low effect in seperated flow. And can be than faster deployed fully, where it has the higher effect.