Once the operator authorized release and the aircraft determined it was within range, it dropped the GPS-guided 250-pound weapon from its internal weapons bay at 35,000 ft. And 0.67 Mach (approximately 440 mph).

The aircraft autonomously performed all attack maneuvers, bay door operations, and weapon-away release sequences under human operator supervision. The bomb hit within a few feet of the target, which would have been destroyed, had a live warhead been used.

"I'd like to recognize the hard work and diligence of the entire J-UCAS team. Boeing, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, the Air Force Flight Test Center, and China Lake worked together brilliantly to accomplish this joint 'first' for unmanned aviation. This is a significant milestone in our path towards developing a lethal unmanned aircraft that can work seamlessly under human control," commented CAPT Ralph N. Alderson, USN, X-45 Program Manager.

The J-UCAS program is a joint Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Air Force/Navy effort to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility, and operational value of a networked system of high performance, weaponized unmanned air vehicles to effectively and affordably prosecute 21st century combat missions.

The Boeing X-45A vehicles are tools for demonstrating the initial technical feasibility of the J-UCAS concept. Boeing and Northrop Grumman are now developing the next generation of vehicles (the X-45C and X-47B,respectively) to demonstrate the military utility and operational value of the J-UCAS concept.

JUCAS will also employ a Common Operating System that enables the two air vehicle types to operate together and also interoperate with other systems within the Department of Defense global information grid.

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