A new job for the UCAS-D

I might be wrong here, but I think the US Navy may have just expanded the scope of the Unmanned Combat Air Systems - Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. My understanding was that the Northrop Grumman X-47 was on contract solely to demonstrate carrier-based operations by 2013. The X-47's design would be capable of performing autonomous aerial refuelling (AAR), but that wasn't in the Navy's budget.

I'm still checking on this to be certain, but it appears AAR has been added to the UCAS-D budget. Here's a solicitation document posted on Fbo.gov this morning:

NAVAIR intends to contract on a sole source basis with the Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (NGSC), San Diego, CA to modify the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System under contract N00019-07-C-0055 to support demonstration of AAR capability by CY 2013.

The X-47B air vehicle is the only relevant carrier suitable unmanned air system in existence capable of demonstrating AAR. Further, the X-47B design is capable of accommodating both USN-style and USAF-style refueling physical and electronic interfaces required for AAR including a capability to accept fuel.