Way of the Future: Navy Launches Mother Drone from Aircraft Carrier [View all]

From the What Could Possibly Go Wrong Files:

http://www.commondreams.org/further/2013/05/15



Way of the Future: Navy Launches Mother Drone from Aircraft Carrier
by Abby Zimet
05.15.13 - 10:23 AM

For the first time the Navy successfully launched a drone the size of a fighter jet - weighing 14,000 pounds, with three times the range of the Predator drone, piloted entirely by computer program with no human intervention - from the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush. The X-47B is the first drone designed to take off and land on a carrier, meaning the U.S. won't need permission from any other pesky countries to use their bases. Not worried enough yet? Watch the video. (video at link)



http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/05/15-1

Experts say aircraft carrier capability will widely expand range and use of pilot-less bombers

In Ominous Development, US Navy Makes Historic Drone Launch
- Jon Queally, staff writer
Published on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by Common Dreams

As the US Navy celebrated a breakthrough achievement on Tuesday after successfully launching a jet-propelled drone from the deck of the USS George HW Bush, those concerned about the increasing proliferation of US drones and the deadly programs fueled by the remotely piloted aircraft expressed ominous dread.

It was the first time the US military has been able to launch one of its drones from an aircraft carrier and also a test flight for one of the new Navy's powerful, long-range and stealth version of a drone, the X-47B, which was developed by Northrop Grumman at a price of $1.4 billion.

"As our access to overseas ports, forward operating locations and airspace is diminished around the world, the value of the aircraft carrier and the air wing becomes more and more important," said Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic. "So today is history."

And Mark Gunzinger, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, told Reuters the launch of the long-range, stealth aircraft was "a great story." He said, "It's a milestone and a step forward for unmanned, carrier-based aviation. But I think the real story is what's next. How do we operationalize this capability?"



unhappycamper comment: This article sez: "the X-47B, which was developed by Northrop Grumman at a price of $1.4 billion."

Quick question: Why are wikipedia costs for this stuff always low?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-47B

Northrop Grumman X-47B
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from X-47B)

The Northrop Grumman X-47B is a demonstration unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) designed for carrier-based use. Developed by the American defense technology company Northrop Grumman, the X-47 project began as part of DARPA's J-UCAS program, and is now part of the United States Navy's UCAS-D (Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration) program, which aims to create a carrier-based unmanned aircraft. It is intended that the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike System (UCLASS) will enter service in 2019. The X-47B first flew in 2011, and as of 2013, it is undergoing flight testing, having successfully performed a series of land- and carrier-based demonstrations.[2]


X-47B UCAS-D
The X-47B's first takeoff at Edwards AFB, California, in February 2011
Role Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
First flight 4 February 2011
Primary user United States Navy
Number built 2
Program cost US$813 million[1]
Developed from X-47A Pegasus
Developed into X-47C UCLASS