La primera aeronave no tripuladada (UAV) de ataque, diseñada para operar desde portaaviones, está a punto de realizar su primer vuelo.
El Northrop Grumman X-47B ha realizado pruebas en tierra por varias semanas, en la base aérea de Edwards.
Estaba previsto un primer vuelo este mes de diciembre, pero el clima y otros factores lo han impedido, aunque hay esperanzas de que el vuelo tenga lugar a principios de 2011.
El diseño del X-47B, del que se han construido dos prototipos, recuerda al del bombardero B-2.
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The first unmanned aircraft designed as a carrier-based strike jet is almost ready to take to the air for the first time.
Northrop Grumman’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) drone has been performing taxi tests for several weeks at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Program officials had hoped for a flight by mid-December, but weather and other factors have delayed the event. Officials were reluctant to specify an exact date, but are hopeful the flight will take place before the end of the year.
Two X-47Bs have been built by Northrop’s Integrated Systems sector under a 2007 development contract. The stealthy aircraft, which resembles a miniature B-2 bomber — also built by Northrop — is intended to test the concept of operating a small, unmanned, combat jet from aircraft carriers.
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