Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy Conduct First Catapult Launch of X-47B Unmanned Aircraft
29 Novembre 2012 - 11:30PM
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Navy have
conducted the Navy's first catapult launch of an unmanned system
using the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator.
Photos accompanying this release are available at
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=16009
The test was conducted today 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.
Northrop Grumman is the Navy's prime contractor for the UCAS-D
program.
"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.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cybersecurity, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government
and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
CONTACT: Brooks McKinney, APR
310-331-6610 (office)
310-864-3785 (mobile)
brooks.mckinney@ngc.com
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