X-47 Takes Flight

On Tuesday, the actual X-47B took flight. It was conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, and helped validate the hardware and programming to land on a moving deck. Northrop Grumman is hoping to have the first carrier based take off in 2013, and air-to-air refueling. Check out my other story here.

Northrop Grumman X-47B

Northrop Grumman is developing the X-47B, a tailless strike fighter-sized system that is unmanned. It is also the first unmanned fighter to be able land and take off from an aircraft carrier. An F/A-18 using the avionics made many landings and touch and goes. Northrop Grumman says in the year 2013, it will be used to demonstrate the first carrier launches and recoveries by a low observable unmanned aircraft. It will also be a foundation for future unmanned, carrier based aircraft. The X-47B Developed from X-47A. Check out the full story here.