Northrop Grumman designed the most advanced robot aircraft in the world

Defence contractor Northrop Grumman presented its newest military project – the Х-47В UCAS (Unmanned Combat Air System), which the company described as “the most advanced robot aircraft in the world”.

There are three major distinctions of the Х-47В from the rest of UAVs: first, it is capable of taking off and landing on both ground runway and the deck of a carrier, which is much more complicated in technical sense. Second, the robot aircraft is capable of autonomous docking with the aerial tanker and refuel itself. Finally, the Х-47В incorporates a comprehensive combat system allowing it to attack both ground targets and flying objects, e.g. other aircraft.

The first demonstrator is a robot aircraft designed for take-off and landing onto a regular runway. The other one is equipped with special short take-off system for catapult launches, as well as with an arresting gear for deck landings. 

Northrop engineers claim the Х-47В to be capable of operating round-the clock due to the air refueling capability. The only disadvantage of the test model is that it carries no weapons but has a full-sized weapons bay. The Х-47В can be equipped with heavy machineguns and a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.

Another characteristic of the Х-47В proves it to be a next-generation system. The point is that the Х-47В has an autonomous fire control system. Many of the previous experimental UAVs carried weapons, which could be only fired at a satellite-transmitted command by the remote operator who decided what to be hit and when. The Х-47В decides for itself, when it should open fire or launch a missile.

The X-47B’s airframe is built to meet the demands of the new-generation Stealth technology in order to make it less-detectable by radar.

The first experimental model has been completely built and scheduled to start test flights in late 2009. The construction of the second test aircraft started in March 2009. Flight-envelope verification and certification of carrier-based operations will be conducted in 2010 as a preparation for at-sea carrier landing tests to be held in late 2011 with follow-on analysis and program completion by 2013.

Source: cybersecurity.ru