Earlier this week, the U.S. Navy today launched an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator from an aircraft carrier at sea, the system’s first at sea, catapult launch. The aircraft flew from USS George H. W. Bush off the coast of Virginia and landed safely at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. about an hour later. Check out these great shots and video below.
Dave Lorenz, left, and Bruce McFadden, deck operators for Northrop Grumman, discuss the launch of an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Lorenz and McFadden operated the X-47B as it taxied from the aircraft elevator to the catapult. George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/Released)
Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) remove the chocks from an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator aircraft. George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin J. Steinberg/Released)
An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator flies over the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Alan Radecki/Released)
The launch …
And landing …
Very cool, so close to robot wars. Also a bit scary when you think about terrorists with this tech.
Bravo USN!!! I hope it saves a lot of US airmen.