Drone on Deck

摘要

The Navy has finally gotten the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) off the ground. Program officials now must figure out how to land a tailless drone on a busy carrier and integrate it seamlessly with flight deck operations. The Northrop Grumman-built X-47B UCAS demonstrator aircraft took flight for the first time in February, and since then the program has completed more flights, all in the range of 28 to 45 minutes apiece, according to Don Blottenberger, deputy program manager for UCAS. All of the flights covered basic flying qualities with the aircraft.