Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus: Difference between revisions
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The X-45A was rolled out on 30 July 2001 and performed its first flight on 23 February 2003 at the US Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake, California. The flight test program did not involve weapons delivery, but Pegasus does have two weapons bays, one on each side of the engine, that may be each loaded with a single 500 [[pound (mass)|pound]] (225 kilogram) dummy bomb to simulate operational flight loads. The Pegasus was also used to evaluate technologies for carrier deck landings, though the demonstrator did not have an arrestor hook. Other issues related to carrier operations involve adding deck tie-downs without compromising stealth characteristics, and designing access panels so that they wouldn't be blown around or damaged by strong winds blowing across the carrier deck. |
The X-45A was rolled out on 30 July 2001 and performed its first flight on 23 February 2003 at the US Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake, California. The flight test program did not involve weapons delivery, but Pegasus does have two weapons bays, one on each side of the engine, that may be each loaded with a single 500 [[pound (mass)|pound]] (225 kilogram) dummy bomb to simulate operational flight loads. The Pegasus was also used to evaluate technologies for carrier deck landings, though the demonstrator did not have an arrestor hook. Other issues related to carrier operations involve adding deck tie-downs without compromising stealth characteristics, and designing access panels so that they wouldn't be blown around or damaged by strong winds blowing across the carrier deck. |
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Roll out of the X-47B was at [[Air Force Plant 42]] in [[Palmdale, California]] on [[December 16]], [[2008]]. It is planned to have a three year test program at [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards AFB, California]] and [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River|NAS Patuxent River, Maryland]], culminating in sea trials in November 2011. The X-47B carries no weapons, but it has a full-sized weapons bay. It is that same size and weight as an operational vehicle would be, in order to provide realistic testing.<ref>[http://avpress.com/n/17/1217_s1.hts "Robot attack jet unveiled Northrop shows off unmanned X-47B fighter"], Antelope Valley Press, 17 December 2008</ref> |
Roll out of the X-47B was at [[Air Force Plant 42]] in [[Palmdale, California]] on [[December 16]], [[2008]]. It is planned to have a three year test program at [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards AFB, California]] and [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River|NAS Patuxent River, Maryland]], culminating in sea trials in November 2011. The X-47B carries no weapons, but it has a full-sized weapons bay. It is that same size and weight as an operational vehicle would be, in order to provide realistic testing.<ref>[http://avpress.com/n/17/1217_s1.hts "Robot attack jet unveiled Northrop shows off unmanned X-47B fighter"], Antelope Valley Press, 17 December 2008</ref> |
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<ref>[http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/systems/nucasx47b.html "Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems X-47B UCAS overview"], Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems</ref> |
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<ref>[http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=156493 "Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Reveals First Navy Unmanned Combat Aircraft"], Northrop Grumman news release, Dec. 16, 2008" </ref> |
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==Variants== |
==Variants== |
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Revision as of 18:54, 19 December 2008
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2008) |
| X-47 Pegasus | |
|---|---|
| File:NG-X47B.jpg | |
| Northrop Grumman X-47B | |
| Role | Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
| First flight | February 2003 |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Produced | 2003 - January 13, 2006 |
The Northrop Grumman X-47 Pegasus is a demonstration Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle. The X-47 began as part of DARPA's J-UCAS program, and is now part of the United States Navy's UCAS-D program to create a carrier-based unmanned aircraft. Unlike the Boeing X-45, initial Pegasus development was company-funded. The original vehicle carries the designation X-47A, while the follow-on naval version is designated X-47B.
Design and development
The proof-of-concept X-47A vehicle was built under contract by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites at the Mojave Spaceport. The roll out ceremony at Mojave was in July 2001 and the first flight was successfully completed in February 2003. The J-UCAS program was terminated on January 13, 2006 as part of the US Military's Quadrennial Defense Review.
The US Navy did not commit to practical UCAV efforts until mid-2000, when the service awarded contracts of US$2 million each to Boeing and Northrop Grumman for a 15-month concept-exploration program.[1]
Design considerations for a naval UCAV included dealing with the corrosive salt-water environment, deck handling for launch and recovery, integration with command and control systems, and operation in a carrier's high electromagnetic interference environment. The Navy was also interested in using their UCAVs for reconnaissance missions, penetrating protected airspace to identify targets for the attack waves.
The Navy went on to give Northrop Grumman a contract for a naval UCAV demonstrator with the designation of "X-47A Pegasus", in early 2001. The Pegasus demonstrator looks like a simple black arrowhead with no vertical tailplane. It has a leading edge sweep of 55 degrees and a trailing edge sweep of 35 degrees. The demonstrator has retractable tricycle landing gear, with a one-wheel nose gear and dual-wheel main gear, and has six control surfaces, including two elevons and four "inlaids". The inlaids are small flap structures mounted on the top and bottom of the wing forward of the wingtips.
The X-47A is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5C small high-bypass turbofan engine with 3,190 lbf (14.2 kN) thrust. This engine is currently in use with operational aircraft such as the Aermacchi S-211 trainer. The engine is mounted on the demonstrator's back, with the inlet on top behind the nose. The inlet duct has a serpentine diffuser to prevent radar reflections off the engine fan. However, to keep costs low, the engine exhaust is a simple cylindrical tailpipe, with no provisions for reducing radar or infrared signature.
The X-45A's airframe is built of composite materials, with construction subcontracted out to Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites company, which had the expertise and tooling to do the job inexpensively. The airframe basically consists of four main assemblies, split down the middle with two assemblies on top and two on bottom.
The X-45A was rolled out on 30 July 2001 and performed its first flight on 23 February 2003 at the US Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake, California. The flight test program did not involve weapons delivery, but Pegasus does have two weapons bays, one on each side of the engine, that may be each loaded with a single 500 pound (225 kilogram) dummy bomb to simulate operational flight loads. The Pegasus was also used to evaluate technologies for carrier deck landings, though the demonstrator did not have an arrestor hook. Other issues related to carrier operations involve adding deck tie-downs without compromising stealth characteristics, and designing access panels so that they wouldn't be blown around or damaged by strong winds blowing across the carrier deck.
Roll out of the X-47B was at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California on December 16, 2008. It is planned to have a three year test program at Edwards AFB, California and NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, culminating in sea trials in November 2011. The X-47B carries no weapons, but it has a full-sized weapons bay. It is that same size and weight as an operational vehicle would be, in order to provide realistic testing.[2]
Variants
- X-47A
- X-47B
Specifications (X-47A)
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This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them. |
General characteristics
- Crew: none
Performance
- Thrust/weight: 0.65
Armament
None (ISR)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- ^ "DARPA And Navy Select Naval UCAV Contractors", US DoD, 20 June 2000.
- ^ "Robot attack jet unveiled Northrop shows off unmanned X-47B fighter", Antelope Valley Press, 17 December 2008
- ^ "Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems X-47B UCAS overview", Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems
- ^ "Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Reveals First Navy Unmanned Combat Aircraft", Northrop Grumman news release, Dec. 16, 2008"