ARLINGTON, Va., April 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National
Aeronautic Association (NAA) has selected the X-47B Unmanned Combat
Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) team to receive the 2013 Robert
J. Collier Trophy, aviation's highest honor.
A photo accompanying this release is available at
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Comprised of leaders in government, business and industry, the
NAA voting committee awarded the U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:
NOC) and industry partners for "developing and demonstrating the
first unmanned, autonomous air system operating from an aircraft
carrier."
On May 14, 2013, the X-47B was the
first unmanned, tailless aircraft to catapult launch from an
aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Three days
later, the aircraft made the first carrier-based touch-and-go
landings. On July 10, 2013, the X-47B
made history again on CVN 77 by being the first unmanned, tailless
aircraft to make an arrested landing aboard a carrier.
Conferred annually, the Collier Trophy recognizes one team or
individual who has made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or
astronautics in America" during the previous year. Past recipients
of the trophy include: Howard Hughes
(1938), Neil Armstrong (1969), the
B-2 (1991), Global Hawk (2000) and SpaceShipOne (2004).
The 2013 Collier Trophy will be formally presented May 29 at the annual Robert J. Collier Trophy
Dinner in Arlington.
"It is a tremendous honor to be selected as this year's winner,"
said Carl Johnson, vice president of
Northrop Grumman's UCAS-D organization. "The X-47B program is the
product of extraordinary vision and relentless execution. The Navy
and our entire industry team have been formidable partners in
developing an aircraft that many thought impossible."
Key suppliers to the X-47B program are Dell, Eaton, GE Aviation,
GKN Aerospace, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, MOOG, Pratt &
Whitney, Rockwell Collins, UTC Aerospace Systems and Wind
River.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation