Operational Concept For Naval Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Unveiled

UAV NEWS

Northrop Grumman Unveils Design for Operational Naval UCAV El Segundo, Calif. - April 15, 2003 - Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector has unveiled its operational system concept for a naval unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV-N). The new configuration, which combines features of the "kite" aerodynamic shape successfully demonstrated by the company's X-47A Pegasus experimental UAV and a "flying wing," enables long endurance and high survivability; excellent carrier launch and recovery flying qualities, and low approach speeds.

El Segundo - Apr 17, 2003
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector has unveiled its operational system concept for a naval unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV-N) designed to fly surveillance, strike and suppression-of-enemy-air-defense missions from an aircraft carrier.

The concept represents Northrop Grumman's participation in an emerging government competition to develop and demonstrate UCAVs that could perform U.S. Navy and Air Force missions.

The concept combines the "kite" aerodynamic shape successfully demonstrated by the company's tailless X-47A Pegasus experimental unmanned vehicle with a "flying wing" shape. The kite design enables efficient integration of propulsion and weapons, while the wing extensions provide aerodynamic efficiency.

The air vehicle design also provides long endurance, high survivability and the low-speed, aerodynamic flying qualities and precision landing capabilities required for autonomous launch and recovery operations from a carrier.

Northrop Grumman is currently conducting technology and risk-reduction studies under Phase IIA of the UCAV-N program managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Navy.

"This operational UCAV-N concept meets all naval UCAV requirements while leveraging the company's unmatched experience in unmanned systems, precision strike, electronic warfare and low observable or stealth technologies," said Randy Secor, Northrop Grumman's UCAV-N program manager.

"Our design also has the flexibility to meet Air Force requirements in the government's emerging joint UCAV program."

Northrop Grumman already has a wealth of data generated from the company-funded Pegasus program and from extensive wind tunnel testing of the UCAV operational concept air vehicle, he added.

The UCAV-N concept also builds on the company's extensive experience with autonomous flight control, including thousands of flight hours by its combat-proven Global Hawk and Fire Scout unmanned systems. Secor noted that Global Hawk, Fire Scout and Pegasus all completed their first flights, from engine start to shutdown, without human intervention.

Work on the UCAV-N program is performed in El Segundo, Calif., within the Air Combat Systems business area of the company's Integrated Systems sector.

UAV NEWS

Marines Take Control Of Fire Scout UAV Test

San Diego - Apr 17, 2003
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector continued its successful flight testing of the U.S. Navy's RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle in March with the first flight fully operated from the U.S. Marine Corps' (USMC) S-788, a HMMWV-mounted ground control station (GCS).

SUPERPOWERS US Warned Not To Ignore Chinese Military Advances	NUKEWARS The Ultimate Weapon New Age Nukes Set To Bust The Bunker of MAD Pakistan, India In Tit-For-Tat Missile Tests Successful Launch of Minuteman III ICBM Do Art On A Mass Scale
MISSILE NEWS Manpower Reductions Planned Throughout Space Command Northrop Grumman To Design Radar For Multi-Sensor Command And Control Aircraft Air-to-Air Missile Market to Generate $12 Billion in Sales Through 2012 Missile Shield Will Start From Pacific Testbed	MISSILE DEFENSE Lockheed Martin To Study Big Target Rocket Concepts Missiles In "Position" As India Mulls Further Action Against Pakistan Abm Pullout: The Phonecall That Soured Putin's Year. Or Did It? US Official Defends Plans for Missile Defense Despite Test Failure
AEROSPACE Aurora Builds Low-speed Wind Tunnel Yeager To Retire From Military Flying After October Airshow Yeager To Retire From Military Flying After October Airshow Boeing Signs Technology Development Agreement With JAI For Work On Sonic Cruiser	UAV NEWS Operational Concept For Naval Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Unveiled Marines Take Control Of Fire Scout UAV Test Hunter UAV Scores Direct Hit With Viper Strike Munition UAV Collision-Avoidance Flight Demonstrations Scheduled
IRAQ WARS	MILTECH

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement