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UCAS-D concept
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In January 2006, DID noted the uncertain future of the J-UCAS program, which aimed to create Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) for the USAF and Navy that could approach the capabilities of an F-117 stealth fighter. Boeing’s X-45C was set to face off against Northrop Grumman’s X-47B Pegasus, the program had demonstrated successful tests that included dropping bombs, and aerial refueling tests were envisioned.

J-UCAS was eventually canceled, but the technologies have survived, and the US Navy remains interested. In May 2007, “CSBA on Future US Naval Aviation: Unmanned, Too?” highlighted a non-partisan report that discussed at the lengthening reach of ship-killers.Meanwhile, the US Navy’s carrier fleet sees its strike range shrinking to 1950s distances, and prepares for a future with 11 operational carriers – but just 10 carrier air wings. Could UCAV/UCAS vehicles with longer ranges, and indefinite flight time limits via aerial refueling, solve these problems?

Some people in the Navy seem to think that they might. Hence UCAS-D, which now has its official jet engine, and plans to begin aerial refueling tests…

• The UCAS-D Program
• Contracts and Key Events
• Additional Readings

The UCAS-D Program

X-47B concept
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In July 2007, Northrop Grumman’s X-47B Pegasus beat Boeing’s X-45C to win the UCAS-D development contract. Northrop Grumman’s Aug 3/07 release describes their mission as: “The UCAS-D effort will mature critical technologies, reduce unmanned air system carrier integration risks and provide information necessary to support a potential follow-on acquisition milestone.”

Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5C turbofan engine powered previous X-47 models, but the UCAS-D will adopt Pratt & Whitney’s F100-PW-220U, a modified variant of the engine that powers American F-16 and F-15 fighters. The UCAS-D’s subsonic design and carrier-based employment change the engine’s requirements; it will produce less thrust than its counterparts (16,000 lbs.), while receiving an improved ability to survive in a corrosive salt-water environment.

The first X-47B Pegasus UCAS-D is scheduled to fly in late 2009. It will begin a series of detailed flight envelope and land-based carrier integration and qualification events beginning in 2010, with the first actual at-sea carrier landings planned for late 2011. Follow-on analysis and program completion will take place in 2012-2013.

Palmdale, CA is the final assembly site for the X-47B, and the industrial team also includes Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney (engine), GKN Aerospace, GE Aviation, Honeywell, Eaton Aerospace, Moog Inc., Wind River, Goodrich, Parker Aerospace, Dell, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Rockwell Collins.

Contracts and Key Events

X-47B Concept
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See also “Boeing to Advance UAV Aeral Refueling” for background and updates regarding unmanned aerial refueling test programs in the US military – which now include UCAS-D.

Unless otherwise indicated, The Naval Air Systems Command Patuxent River, MD issued the contracts.

Jan 12/09: Jane’s confirms that the X-47 UCAS-D program will begin aerial refueling tests performed in 2010, using surrogate aircraft.

Boeing is currently leading a team including X-47B partners Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin for the 4-year second phase of a parallel Air Force Research Laboratory program. Winship says the X-47B could be used to provide a “graduation exercise” for the AAR effort.

Nov 19/08: Boeing in St Louis, MO received a $49 million cost plus fixed fee contract as the automated aerial refueling Phase II integrator. At this point, $1.2 million has been obligated. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH manages this contract (FA8650-09-C-3902). Read “$49M for Boeing to Advance UAV Aeral Refueling” for an explanation of the importance to the UCAS-D and similar programs.

July 14/08 Pratt & Whitney announces a $54 million contract from Northrop Grumman to develop and integrate the X-47 UCAS-D’s engine and exhaust system. The Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220U engine will power the UCAS-D, providing up to 16,000 pounds of thrust while operating in a maritime environment, including carrier deck operations.

August 1/07: Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems – Western Region in San Diego, CA received a $635.9 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the Unmanned Combat Air System CV Demonstration Program (UCAS-D). Work will be performed in Rancho Bernardo, CA (38%); El Segundo, CA (29%); Palmdale, CA (13%); East Hartford, CT (7%); Jupiter, FL (2%); Nashville, TN (2%); Hazelwood, MO (1%), and various locations within the United States (8%), and is expected to be complete in September 2013.

The purpose of the UCAS-D is to demonstrate critical CV suitability technologies for a stealthy air vehicle in a relevant environment [DID: i.e naval/ aircraft carriers]. Expected deliverables include trade studies, analyses, software, reports and flight test data. This contract was competitively procured through a request for proposals; 2 firms were solicited [DID: that would be Boeing and NGC] and 2 offers were received (N00019-07-C-0055). See also Northrop Grumman’s Aug 3/07 release.

Just another day
at the office…
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Sept 28/05: As part of DARPA’s J-UCAS program, Northrop Grumman Corporation’s X-47B conducted a successful simulated exercise at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, CA. It demonstrated the simultaneous control of 4 of its X-47B unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operations. See Dec 9/05 NGC release.

Using a surrogate aircraft which represented one X-47B, 3 additional simulated X-47B aircraft were successfully controlled during several flights using advanced mission-management software and air traffic control procedures currently used by Navy aircraft carriers. The air traffic controller provided standard commands to a single mission operator, who in turn ensured all four aircraft safely operated within the simulated carrier’s airspace. The controller had to demonstrate the ability to guide all 4 aircraft through approach, wave-off and traffic pattern procedures, while accomplishing proper spacing and air traffic de-confliction. The mission operator had to be able to monitor the entire process to ensure proper command response, and advise the controller on aircraft response or performance limitations.

This was one of many tests undertaken as part of J-UCAS. It is reproduced here for its ongoing relevance to the UCAS-D program.

Additional Readings & Sources: UCAS-D

• Air Force Technology – X-47 Pegasus Naval Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV-N), USA

• Northrop Grumman – X-47B UCAS. See also UCAS brochure [PDF format].

• Northrop Grumman Review Online (2007) – The United States Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) Program

Additional Readings & Sources

• DID FOCUS Article – nEUROn UCAV Project Rolling Down the Runway (updated). nEUROn is a 6-nation European project that aims to create a UCAV with capabilities that resemble J-UCAS, but do not currently include carrier operations. It has moved into Phase 2.

• Air Force Technology – Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) Demonstrator, United Kingdom. Not tackling carrier operations at this point.

• DARPA – J-UCAS program. J-UCAS died shortly after being transferred to the Air Force and Navy.

• Air Force Technology – X-45 J-UCAV Joint Unmanned Combat Air System, USA. The X-47B’s competitor for the UCAS-D follow-on program, and fellow J-UCAS participant.

• DID – Ride on the Ray: Boeing’s X-45 UCAVs. Boeing has restarted it with corporate funding.

• Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments (June 18/08) – Range, Persistence, Stealth, and Networking: The Case for a Carrier-Based Unmanned Combat Air System [PDF]

• Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) Backgrounder (May 10/07) – The Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration Program: A New Dawn For Naval Aviation? [PDF]

• Northrop Grumman Analysis Center, presentation to the 3rd Joint-Industry Forum (Feb 16/05) – Joint Unmanned Combat Air System and US Military Transformation shows [7.2 MB, PDF Format]

• DID (Aug 14/07) – Aerial Refueling: Look, Ma, No Hands! DARPA’s Autonomous Airborne Refueling Demonstration program performs tests with a NASA F/A-18D and a commercial 707-300 aerial tanker… and the system works. In some cases, it works better than human pilots.

• Military.com (Aug 14/07) – Will Drones Work on Carriers? Describes the process of launching and landing UCAVs on a carrier. You may be surprised to learn how much of this is already automated in America’s manned fighters.

• Air Force Magazine (November 2005) – Will We Have an Unmanned Armada?