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Carrier UCAVs: The Return of UCAS

01-Aug-2007 19:04 EDT

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AIR UAV X-47B Carrier Takeoff Diagram
UCAS-D concept
(click to view full)

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, successful tests had been conducted including dropped 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, even as 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 folks in the Navy seem to agree that they might…

The UCAS-D Program

AIR UAV X-47B Combat Diorama
X-47B concept
(click to view full)

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.”

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 follow in 2012-2013.

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

Contracts and Key Events

AIR_UAV_X-47B_Concept_On_Carrier_Near F-18s.jpg
X-47B Concept
(click to view full)

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

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.

AIR_UAV_X-47B_Parking_Lot.jpg
Just another day
at the office…
(click to view full)

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

Additional Readings & Sources

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