Stealthy New Unmanned Aircraft Makes Maiden Flight

Last week saw the maiden flight of a new kind of U.S. Navy drone, a stealth aircraft that could be landing on and taking off from aircraft carriers in a few years.

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft made by Northrop Grumman completed its historic first flight out of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Feb. 4. The flight took off shortly after 2 p.m. PST (5 p.m. EST) and lasted 29 minutes. Taking off under hazy skies, the X-47B climbed to an altitude of 5,000 feet (1,525 meters) and flew several racetrack-type patterns before landing safely. The flight tested the system's guidance and navigation software  as well as the aerodynamic control of the drone's tailless design.

The event marked a critical step in the program, according to the team working on the X-47B. "First flight represents the compilation of numerous tests to validate the airworthiness of the aircraft, and the robustness and reliability of the software that allows it to operate as an autonomous system and eventually have the ability to take off and land aboard an aircraft carrier," said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, the Navy's UCAS-D program manager.

The Navy is hoping the unmanned craft will allow aircraft carriers to remain farther out at sea, away from land-based missile systems, while launching air strikes and reconnaissance missions. The X-47B boasts stealth features, with a shape that makes it difficult to track in the sky.