X-47B UCAS - Unmanned Aircraft

X-47B UCAS (Unmanned Combat Air System) is a multi-mission, unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) which is designed to be launched from aircraft carriers allowing it to perform all sorts of intelligence, surveillance and even target strike missions.

As part of the development of the X-47B Northrop Grumman unveiled the first of two X-47B’s as part of the UCAS-D program which was awarded to them by the navy in 2007. The first X-47B known as AV-1 was revealed on December 16th 2008 during a ceremony at their facility in Palmdale, California.

The demonstrator project (UCAS-D) is scheduled to resume testing throughout 2009 and is expected to complete a first flight towards the end of the year. The second of the two demonstrator X-47B’s is still in construction but also expected to complete towards the end of the year.

A huge step forward for carrier and navy combat this is a project to watch; and for more details you can check the official press release here.