The test was conducted November 29th at a shore-based catapult facility
at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. It marks the first of several
shore-based catapult-to-flight tests that will be performed before the
Navy's UCAS Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program catapult launches
the X-47B from a ship.
"Today's successful launch is another critical milestone in the
carrier-suitability testing phase of the UCAS-D program," said
Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman's UCAS-D program director. "It also
provides another confidence-building step toward our rendezvous with
history next year."
Following the catapult launch, the X-47B conducted a test flight
over Chesapeake Bay near Patuxent River. The flight included several
maneuvers designed to simulate tasks that the aircraft will have to
perform when it lands on a ship, including flying in a typical ship
holding pattern, and executing a carrier approach flight profile. The
flight also allowed the test team to gather precision navigation data
associated with each of those maneuvers.
According to Daryl Martis, Northrop Grumman's UCAS-D flight test director,
the catapult event was significant for another reason: "Today's
launch provided our team with another opportunity to demonstrate the
precision operation of the Northrop Grumman-developed Control Display
Unit [CDU], one of the key enablers of future flight deck operations
for the X-47B," he said.
The CDU is a wireless, arm-mounted controller that will allow a flight
deck operator to control and maneuver the X-47B on the flight deck,
including moving it into the catapult, disengaging it from the carrier's
arresting wires and moving it quickly out of the landing area.
Over the next few weeks, the UCAS-D program expects to conduct several
shore-based catapults at Patuxent River. On Nov. 26, an X-47B was hoisted
aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) at Naval Air Station, Norfolk,
Va. to begin a series of deck handling trials. The trials, expected
to run through mid December, will be used to evaluate the performance
of the CDU in an actual carrier environment.
In 2013, the program plans to demonstrate the ability of an X-47B to
operate from a Navy aircraft carrier, including launch, recovery and
air traffic control operations. The program will also mature technologies
required for potential future Navy unmanned air system programs. For
the latest X-47B news and information, please visit www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/nucasx47b/.
Northrop Grumman's UCAS-D industry team includes Pratt & Whitney,
Lockheed Martin, GKN Aerospace, Eaton, General Electric, UTC Aerospace
Systems, Dell, Honeywell, Moog, Wind River, Parker Aerospace and Rockwell
Collins.
