Lockheed urges more X-47B testing

Lockheed Martin wants to see the continuation of the X-47B demonstrator programme led by Northrop Grumman as the US Navy’s unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike (UCLASS) competition enters a “waiting period” with no firm requirements so far revealed.
Lockheed’s director of unmanned systems strategy, says that industry and the navy still have much to learn about unmanned operations within a battle carrier group that is swarming with manned aircraft.
flightglobal

US Navy X-47B first to complete autonomous aerial refueling

The X-47B successfully conducted the first ever Autonomous Aerial Refeuling of an unmanned aircraft April 22, completing the final test objective under the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration program.
The X-47B connected to an Omega K-707 tanker aircraft and received over 4,000 pounds of fuel using the Navy's probe-and-drogue method.
During the test, the X-47B exchanged refueling messages with a government-designed Refueling Interface System (RIS) aboard the tanker. The aircraft autonomously maneuvered its fixed refueling probe into the tanker’s drogue, also known as the basket, the same way a Navy pilot would refuel a manned aircraft.
navair

US Navy Plans UCLASS Fielding Date for 2020-2022

The US Navy has pushed its planned fielding date for its carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from 2020 to 2022.
In addition to the delay in initial fielding, the service has decided to push the request for proposal of the air segment of UCLASS into Fiscal Year 2016.
The Navy included a modest $135 million for research and development efforts for the program, a significant drop from the FY 2015 request of $403 million.
The previous UCLASS funding is shackled to legislation that require several studies and reports to Congress on the Navy’s intentions for the final platform.
news.usni.org

X-47B May Begin Automated Aerial Refueling Demonstrations Next Year

The Navy’s carrier-based unmanned aircraft demonstrator is undergoing preparations for automated aerial refueling testing next year, including a possible flight demonstration using the aircraft itself, said officials from the service and X-47B manufacturer Northrop Grumman.
Thusfar, the Navy had used a surrogate aircraft for AAR testing.
The service in June 2014 awarded a contract modification to Northrop Grumman for aerial refueling research, development, test and evaluation efforts at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland
The X-47B is the Navy’s first carrier-based drone, capable of almost completely autonomous operations even as the ship moves throughout the seas. The stealthy, tailless aircraft can take off, conduct surveillance and land back on the carrier using a combination of algorithms and sensors that allow it to land on the runway with precision. It first showcased that ability in May 2013 during sea trials on the USS George H.W. Bush when it successfully completed its first touch-and-go and arrested landings.
In August 2014, it returned to the carrier deck once again for its first cooperative flight with a manned aircraft. This time, it flew in pattern with an F-18 Hornet over the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

nationaldefensemagazine

Navy Issues Restricted UCLASS Draft Request for Proposal

The U.S. Navy released a long-awaited draft request for proposal (RFP) for the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft.
Secretary of the Navy signed-off on the draft RFP.
The purpose of the draft RFP is to solicit industry to design, develop, assemble, deliver, test and integrate the air segment into the UCLASS system.
The UCLASS draft RFP was planned to have been released in the middle of 2013, but the document was repeatedly delayed due to disagreements about the technical specifications for the aircraft.
The final RFP is expected later this year.
The draft RFP as released to the four industry teams—General Atomics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
The UCLASS would also have a light strike capability to eliminate targets of opportunity.
usni.org

X-47B completes night flight

The X-47B clocked its first night flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River on Apr. 10.

X-47B completes round of carrier tests

The U.S. Navy has finished another round of carrier tests for the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator. The UAV demonstrated deck handling, carrier landings in high winds, and control systems.
The tests, which took place Nov. 9-19, also marked first time two X-47Bs operated at sea at the same time. While one UAV operated around the carrier Theodore Roosevelt, another conducted flights between ship and shore.
The Navy will continue testing of the X-47B through fiscal 2014.
navytimes

X-47B lands on USS Theodore Roosevelt

USS Theodore Roosevelt became the third aircraft carrier to trap and launch the X-47B on Nov. 10.

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.
usni

UCAS X-47B centennial flight

The X-47B (AV-2) conducted the 100th flight for the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program on Sept. 18. The Navy UCAS program successfully completed all objectives for the carrier demonstration phase with the X-47B in July.

Lawmakers want USN to reexamine UCLASS approach

The chairman and ranking members of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee, urge Mabus in the Sept. 17 letter to make sure the aircraft — the next step from the X-47B – are designed to be part of a carrier air wing, projecting power as part of the carrier group. Some on Capitol Hill and in the Navy fear that senior Pentagon officials are eager to turn UCLASS into a counter-terrorism tool, sort of a super Predator.
breakingdefense

Mystery Flying Wing Drone spotted at Palmdale Air Force Plant 42

Taken from a pilot passing through Palmdale airfield last year, the photo in this post was published by Tyler Rogoway on his Aviationintel.com website.
It shows what appears to be a flying wing type of drone, inside of an aircraft shelter located north of the Northrop Grumman facilities at Air Force Plant 42.
Even if the aircraft, most probably an unmanned one, has a shape seemingly similar to that of the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel, it’s actually quite larger than the “Beast of Kandahar” type of unmanned aerial systems, an example of those was captured by Iran in Dec. 2011.
Based on Rogoway’s detailed photo-analysis, the drone sits in 80ft wide shelter. What’s weird is that, although shielded from satellites, and away from the curious eyes of aircraft spotters, the structure hosting the mysterious aircraft is unsealed, a fact that almost completely rules out any possibility the one depicted in the image is a new black project.
Still, it’s really hard to say whether the mysterious drone is a prop, an X-47 mock-up used for testing purposes, a technology demonstrator, a Global Hawk replacement, a small scale unmanned B-2 or a larger Sentinel, or really a new black project (a larger Sentinel).

Image courtesy of Tyler Rogoway/Aviationintel.com

theaviationist

Primer vuelo del X-47B/X-47B Unmanned Combat Aircraft Completes Historic First Flight

Northrop Grumman y la US Navy han realizado el primer vuelo de la primera aeronave furtiva no tripulada destinada a operar desde portaaviones, el X-47B, desde la base aére de Edwards AFB, California.
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On Feb 4, 2011, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy helped launch the next century of naval aviation with the successful first flight of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Aircraft. Conducted at Edwards AFB, Calif., the 29-min flight is a critical first step toward demonstrating that a tailless, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft can safely operate from the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier.
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India empezará a retirar las versiones mas antiguas del MiG-21 en 2012
IAF to phase out oldest variants of MiG-21 by next year
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Despues de que Boeing reajustara su oferta en el KC-X, EADS ha decidido no reajustar la suya.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders told Reuters in Munich that EADS has decided not to make any changes to its KC-X bid. Bidders are to make a final submission on Feb. 11.
leer mas/read more

La USAF ha ayudado al retorno al servicio con la Fuerza Aérea Nigeriana del primer C-130H de un total de cinco.
The U.S. Air Force helped return to operational service the first of five C-130 of Nigerian Air Force.
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Croacia invita a MiG a modernizar sus MiG-21.
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Se investiga a Ministerio de Defensa Alemán por vender tanques Leopard a Chile muy por debajo de su coste.
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MiG ha realizado en Rusia la primera prueba de vuelo de un MiG-29 de los que viene modernizando de la Fuerza Aérea India.
Russia's MiG corporation on Friday carried out the first test fight of a MiG-29 fighter modernized under a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF).
leer mas/read more

Bulgaria recibe oferta Saab para compra de Gripen.
Bulgarian Defense Chief Gets Saab Offer on Gripen Fighter Jets.
leer mas/read more

El Helicóptero no tripulado MQ-8B, es desplegado por primera vez en un buque, la fragata USS Halyburton.
Fire Scout going blue water for first time.
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Empresa china podría presentarse al concurso abierto para suministrar el futuro helicóptero presidencial de Estados Unidos, el Marine One.
Chinese Firm Could Bid On Marine One Helos Deal.
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Primer aterrizaje en portaaviones de un Hawkeye E-2D modernizado
Advanced Hawkeyes first carrier landing.
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Debido a la alta demanda, Airbus ha incrementado la producción del A330 a 10 unidades al mes.
Airbus to increase A330 production rate to ten a month.
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Piloto de la US Navy completa vuelo en el F-35.
Navy Test Pilot Completes First F-35 Flight.
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Un Super Tucano ha sido visto en el aeropuerto de Jacksonville, Florida, localidad donde sería ensamblado si Embraer consigue contrato del Dpto. de Defensa de Estados Unidos.
A Brazilian Super Tucano aircraft was seen at Jacksonville in Florida on Sunday. The light attack/trainer aircraft would be assembled there if Embraer seals the deal on a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense.
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Brasil reevaluará plan para la compra de 11 buques por 6.000 millones de dólares, como ya hizo con su decisión de adqusición de nuevos cazas.
Brazil to re-evaluate $6B Warships Plan.
leer mas/read more

MirageC14 China y Estados Unidos mantienen una guerra en el espacio, tras el derribo de un satélte americano por China en 2007 por un misil antisatélite en pruebas.
China, U.S. engaged in secret space weapons race.
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La Armada India compra 4P-8I Poseidón más.
Indian Navy to exercise options for 4 P-8Is.
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Aeronave no tripulada de ataque basada en portaaviones a punto del primer vuelo/ Unmanned strike jet for carriers nearly set for first flight

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.
(leer más)
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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.
(read more)