Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems X-47A and X-47B J-UCAS Demonstration System

J-UCAS X-47A and X-47B UCAS

At the same time that Boeing was awarded the contract for their UCAV-N demonstrator, Northrop Grumman was awarded a similar contract for a different design. The initial Pegasus carries the designation X-47A, and a refined UCAV-N is expected to be designated the X-47B. Designed with stealth features and shaped like a kite, Pegasus is constructed largely with composite materials. One of the first tasks of the Pegasus flight program will be to demonstrate acceptable aerodynamic flying qualities suitable for operations from an aircraft carrier.

Northrop Grumman is performing trade studies, analysis and preliminary design for a UCAV-N under a $2 million contract with DARPA and the U.S. Navy. The goal of the joint DARPA/Navy project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility for a UCAV system to effectively and affordably conduct sea-based surveillance, suppression of enemy air defenses, and strike missions within the emerging global command and control architecture. The X-47A made its first flight on 24 February 2003 at NAS China Lake, California.

X-47B J-UCAS

X-47 First Flight Flight Time: 12 minutes. Simulated a tailhook arrestment point on a carrier flight deck by landing near a predesignated touchdown point. Utilized shipboard-relative global positioning satellite (SRGPS) system as the primary navigation source for increased landing precision.

Challenging Objectives
• Long Range – Combat Radius
– 1300 nm with 4500 lb Payload
• Significant Endurance/Persistence
– Demo System: 1000 nm / 2 hrs loiter
– Objective System: 1000 nm / 3.5 hrs loiter
• Sizable Payload
– Size / Volume & Weight – 4500 lb - 2 JDAMs
– Multiple Weapons / Sensor Pallets
• High Platform Survivability
• Versatile Sensor Suite
– ESM Capability
– Synthetic Aperture Radar
– EO / IR Sensor
– EW / Electronic Attack Payload
• Carrier Suitability
– Catapult Launch
– Arrested Landing
• Global Operations
– Air Refuelable
– Civil Airspace Compatible

X-47B J-UCAS Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) Direction

• DARPA will lead overall effort and J-UCAS Office
– Joint office will focus on planning and executing a demonstration program
– Demonstration program will support both Air Force and Navy emerging requirements
– Demonstration program leads to a robust Operational Assessment (OA) beginning in FY07

• Services and J-8 will establish a process to develop and assess J-UCAS requirements
– Development and evolution of requirements is critical to the success of JUCAS program
– J-8/Services develop Op Assessment criteria in FY04
» Ops Assessment in FY07-09 timeframe
» OSD review in FY04