Northrop Grumman X-47B

The Northrop Grumman X-47B is a jet-powered demonstration unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed for United States Navy carrier-based operations. The project originated within DARPA’s J-UCAS program before transitioning to the Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. Northrop Grumman was awarded a $635.8 million contract for the demonstrator's development in 2007. Two aircraft were built, designated Air Vehicle 1 (AV-1) and AV-2. AV-1 conducted its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base on February 4, 2011, followed by AV-2 on November 22, 2011.

The X-47B utilizes a tailless blended-wing-body design and is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F100-220U turbofan engine. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 44,501 pounds and a wingspan of 62.1 feet, which folds to 30.9 feet for carrier deck handling. The aircraft is designed for semi-autonomous operation and includes a probe-and-drogue system for aerial refueling. Construction materials and systems were selected to withstand saltwater environments and high electromagnetic interference on aircraft carriers. Avionics provisions include EO/IR, SAR, ISAR, GMTI, MMTI, and ESM. For deck operations, ground crews use a wearable remote control system to steer the aircraft.

The aircraft contains two internal weapon bays with a total payload capacity of 4,500 pounds (2,000 kg). While the demonstrator was built with full-sized bays to accommodate existing missiles for weight and balance testing, the US Navy designated the X-47B as a non-combat platform, and the two demonstrators were never armed.

Operational testing involved land-based catapult launches and arrested landings before transitioning to sea trials. In November 2012, the X-47B began carrier-based evaluation aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. On May 14, 2013, it performed the first UAV catapult launch from the USS George H.W. Bush, followed by the first autonomous arrested carrier landing at sea on July 10, 2013. During 2014 trials on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the X-47B operated alongside manned F/A-18 Hornets, achieving launch and recovery intervals of 90 seconds. In April 2015, the aircraft completed the first fully autonomous aerial refueling with a KC-707 tanker. The primary test program concluded in May 2015. Although the demonstrators were initially slated for museum display, the Navy decided to maintain them in flying condition for further development and testing.

Main Variants

• X-47A: Original proof-of-concept prototype with a 27.8-foot wingspan, first flown in 2003.
• X-47B: Dedicated demonstrator aircraft with a 62-foot wingspan designed for carrier-based flight testing.
• X-47C: Proposed larger version with a 10,000-pound payload capacity intended for the UCLASS project or as a strategic bomber.