Northrop Grumman data sheet

UCAS-D
Unmanned Combat Air System
Carrier Demonstration
UCAS-D
T
he U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System
Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program is
designed to demonstrate the ability of a tailless,
fighter-sized unmanned aircraft to land on and be
launched from the flight deck of a Navy aircraft carrier
underway at sea, one of the most challenging aviation
environments.
Under a contract awarded in Aug. 2007 by the U.S. Naval
Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Northrop Grumman
designed, produced and is currently flight testing two
autonomous, low-observable-relevant demonstrator
aircraft designated the X-47B UCAS. The company
will use these aircraft to demonstrate two “firsts” for
unmanned jet-powered aviation:
• autonomous carrier operations including launch,
recovery and operations in the carrier control area
(out to 50 nautical miles); and
• autonomous aerial refueling, including the Air Force’s
“boom and receptacle” approach and the Navy’s
“probe and drogue” method.
The two X-47B aircraft are identical except that one
accommodates the hardware required to perform aerial
refueling.
X-47B UCAS flight test at Edwards AFB, Calif.
Test activities are currently underway and will lead to
completion of the Navy’s carrier launch and recovery
objectives by 2013. The autonomous aerial refueling
demonstrations are planned for 2014.
The Navy’s UCAS-D program is intended to reduce risks
associated with developing future unmanned, carriercompatible systems.
X-47B Specifications
Wingspan................................................................................ 62.1 ft
Length.....................................................................................38.2 ft
Altitude.......................................................................... >40,000 ft
Range............................................................................... >2,100 nm
Top Speed.............................................................. High Subsonic
Powerplant........................Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220U
38.2 f t
62.1 f t
38.2 f t
10.4 f t
30.9 f t
(folded)
13.9 f t
X-47B System Provisions
Autonomous Aerial Refueling
• Probe and Drogue (USN)
• Boom and Receptacle (USAF)
Twin Internal Weapons Bay...................................... 4,500 lbs
www.northropgrumman.com/n-ucas
© 2012 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
Printed in USA
Creative Business Solutions
12-1305 • NAVAIR 2012-1040 • AS • 09/12 • 1020-AS-5926
For more information, please contact:
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
Unmanned Systems
Brooks McKinney
310-331-6610 • [email protected]