Wednesday, October 23, 2013

X-47B mockup now at museum

X-47B on the George H.W. Bush.
U.S. Navy photo
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A full-scale mockup of Northrop Grumman's X-47B unmanned combat air system arrived at the National Naval Aviation Museum Wednesday, according to WEAR-TV. The Navy is still developing an unmanned combat system that can launch and land on aircraft carriers, but the Northrop Grumman X-47B was used as a demonstration system. In May 2013 the pilotless X-47B made its first successful catapult launch from the USS George H.W. Bush, and in July 2013 it made its first successful arrested landing aboard the same ship. The prototypes were slated to retire, but in August the Navy decided to delay the retirement and continue additional testing. (Source: GCAC, WEAR-TV, 10/23/13) Previous: Drone catapults from carrier; Drone makes arrested carrier landing; X-47B retirement delayed to 2014; Mag lauds X-47B innovators