Carrier UCAVs: The Return of UCAS
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, GE, Lockheed Martin, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, R&D - Contracted, Transformation, UAVs
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N-UCAS receives $2 billion QDR push, aims for quasi-operational status. (Feb 4/10)
In early 2006 the future of the J-UCAS program seemed uncertain. It 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. A May 2007 non-partisan report discussed 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/ N-UCAS, which has received a major push in the FY 2010 defense review.
- The UCAS-D Program
- The X-47B
- Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
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