Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Robot [Navy] attack jet unveiled
Valley Press on ^ | Wednesday, December 17, 2008. | ALLISON GATLIN

Posted on 12/17/2008 2:54:45 PM PST by BenLurkin

PALMDALE - Heralded as the future of naval aviation, the X-47B unmanned combat aircraft for the Navy was unveiled Tuesday before an enthusiastic crowd at Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Palmdale facility. With the Stars and Stripes as a backdrop and the strains of "Anchors Away" echoing through the hangar, the men and women who have contributed to its development greeted the cutting-edge aircraft during the afternoon ceremony.

"It stands out as being a very good-looking aircraft," said Scott Winship, Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program manager for Northrop Grumman.

A first for the Navy, the X-47B is intended to demonstrate the capability of an unmanned, stealthy aircraft to operate from a carrier.

Such an aircraft could offer the Navy the ability to provide long-range strike as well as long-endurance missions for surveillance.

"The Navy is looking for what that next generation airplane has got to have in the way of attributes," said Capt. Martin Deppe, Navy UCAS program manager. "A concept like this is certainly a candidate."

An unmanned aircraft can operate for tens of hours longer than a pilot can safely endure, providing a persistent presence over an area of interest.

"If you want persistence, if you want stealth and you want it to be Navy-based, it's going to look a lot like this," Winship said.

"The ultimate goal is for us to be able to project power around the world to help people achieve and maintain freedom," said Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, whose district includes Northrop Grumman's Palmdale facility.

The X-47B is part of a demonstration program to show how an unmanned vehicle may operate in the demanding and unique environment of an aircraft carrier.

(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...


TOPICS: US: California
KEYWORDS: aerospace; aerospacevalley; allisongatlin; anteopevalley; navair; uav; usnavy; x47b
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last
To: magslinger

ping


21 posted on 12/17/2008 4:51:16 PM PST by Vroomfondel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Starwolf
No it isn't, but this is......
22 posted on 12/17/2008 4:54:10 PM PST by usmcobra (Go ask Obama for your change, and don't bug me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Jeeves
The era of the fighter pilot is drawing to a close.

Tell that to the USAF who pulled out of JUCAS in favor a manned plane. Their silk scarf mafia really needs to get a clue

23 posted on 12/17/2008 5:22:35 PM PST by Starwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Starwolf

The USAF is going to become the USAAC again within a decade. And those ex-fighter jocks are going to be scrambling for meaningful jobs that don’t involve FedEx or UPS. ;)


24 posted on 12/17/2008 5:27:14 PM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("One man's 'magic' is another man's engineering. 'Supernatural' is a null word." -- Robert Heinlein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Jeeves; Starwolf

Wow...talk about needing to get a clue!

The smart thing would be not to put all your eggs in one basket.

It would take one sophisticated jamming and electronic warfare incident to bring this point home.

Ummmm “silk scarf mafia”?

Wow the air dominance envy is thick in here!


25 posted on 12/17/2008 6:29:21 PM PST by tpanther (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing---Edmund Burke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
**can operate for tens of hours longer than a pilot can **?

Dose this it's metric?

26 posted on 12/17/2008 6:39:22 PM PST by ThomasThomas ( .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tpanther
Ummmm “silk scarf mafia”?

Wow the air dominance envy is thick in here!

Not really. Silk scarf mafia is USAF term anyway.

The USAF is seriously lagging in terms of serious UCAVs. It pulled out of JUCAS to support yet another manned bomber. It has nothing beyond the Predator family, even though it was the originator of the JUCAS concept and had excellent demonstrators in the form of the X-45A. The good news is that the silk scarf mafia has been declining in influence inside the USAF, though clearly not fast enough.

As for getting a clue, I suggest you attend your local AUVSI meetings and see what is being done to address the loss of control signal issues. There are multiple approaches suited to different kinds of UAVs. That what is good for a Raven is not what you use for Global Hawk. Regards, the issue has been well addressed.

Your are right about the USA is not putting all its eggs in one basket, it has the USN carriers and the acres of sovereign territory they represent.

27 posted on 12/17/2008 11:23:21 PM PST by Starwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Jeeves

There is still an important place for manned aviation. However there are some in the USAF that have failed to appreciate the value of a mixed UAV/Manned combat aircraft force. This is really amusing when you consider the cat fight the USAF put up to be the UAV lead service. I expect the next Chief of Staff to get that more than the current one.


28 posted on 12/17/2008 11:26:54 PM PST by Starwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Vroomfondel; SC Swamp Fox; Fred Hayek; NY Attitude; P3_Acoustic; Bean Counter; investigateworld; ...
SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

29 posted on 12/18/2008 2:26:26 AM PST by magslinger (I talk to myself but sometimes I like a third opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
From 2005: Will Fly for Food
30 posted on 12/18/2008 7:00:02 AM PST by pabianice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pabianice
Flight to unmanned vehicles clouds future for military aircrews
31 posted on 12/18/2008 7:01:36 AM PST by pabianice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Starwolf
Silk scarf mafia is USAF term anyway.

I've never heard it.

I got a kick out of F-15 pilots referring to themselves as nazis though.

That what is good for a Raven is not what you use for Global Hawk. Regards, the issue has been well addressed.

Well what's known and what will be known it's been addressed. It's the unknown I'm worried about.

32 posted on 12/18/2008 8:35:44 AM PST by tpanther (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing---Edmund Burke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: stockpirate

He COULDN’T spell ‘aweigh’ though.

Of course the ‘fool’ would probably argue till blue in the face that he is correct ....


33 posted on 12/18/2008 11:27:54 AM PST by xrmusn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: tpanther
That what is good for a Raven is not what you use for Global Hawk. Regardless, the issue has been well addressed.

Well what's known and what will be known it's been addressed. It's the unknown I'm worried about.

Like I said, AUVSI is a good place to start to alay your fears. Some of us have been working it for a long time. UAVs are not like RC models and haven't been for some time.

34 posted on 12/18/2008 4:35:17 PM PST by Starwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: usmcobra

Now THAT’S cool!


35 posted on 12/18/2008 4:52:45 PM PST by CaptRon (Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Dog; Ernest_at_the_Beach; csvset; Cap Huff; Marine_Uncle; FARS

Awesome.


36 posted on 12/18/2008 5:48:39 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Straight Vermonter
Now if I was only say twenty with my Microsoft Simulator and Microsoft Combat Simulator and Aces of the South Pacific years of shooting down bogies and known enemy aircraft, could perhaps enlist specifically to fly this airframe. Darn it, guess at 62 they won't take me....heh heh.
One can only be highly impressed with this system.
37 posted on 12/18/2008 10:57:42 PM PST by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter was our best choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-37 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson