X-47B Might Fly into 2015, Next Carrier Tests Could Start in November

The US Navy is making plans that could extend the testing of Northrop Grumman’s X-47B into 2015 with possible new carrier tests as early as next month.
Last week the Navy issued a contract solicitation to extend the testing of the two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) — dubbed Salty Dog 501 and Salty Dog 502 — as part of the Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration (UCAS-D) program.
The eventual contract will, “continue X-47B aircraft system, test bed, and flight test support at both shore-based locations and associated carrier detachments”.
The testing could extend into Fiscal Year 2015 and could include an aerial refueling test of a X-47B. The refueling test had previously been planned for a surrogate aircraft. The additional funding could bring tests to Navy facilities and ships on the West Coast.
In the shorter term, tentative plans call for X-47B test onboard aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in November.
Salty Dog 502 made naval history with the first successful carrier landing onboard USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 in July.
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