UAVs

Northrop Grumman has completed the fuselage of its first X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator. The aircraft was removed from the manufacturing jig on 2 June and placed on to jacks for continued subsystem assembly.

The next phase will include installation of the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine and internal components. Northrop is proposing the carrier-capable X-47B for the US Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator programme, which will involve operating a UCAV on and around an aircraft carrier alongside manned aircraft.

Related links:

• Northrop gets head start on navy UCAS
• US Navy opens UCAS-D competition
• J-UCAS cancellation halts Boeing X-45C roll-out