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May 6, 2013: The Northrop Grumman-built X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first shore-based arrested landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The landing begins the final phase of testing prior to carrier-based trials planned for later this month.![U.S. Navy X-47B catapult launch]()
Nov. 29, 2012: In preparation for the first catapult launch of the U.S. Navy's X-47B unmanned aircraft, a flight deck director -- aka "yellow shirt" -- and a deck operator using Northrop Grumman's wireless, handheld Control Display Unit guide the aircraft into position on a shore-based catapult at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Read more![x_47b_two_flights_one_week]()
March 4, 2011: The third flight of X-47B AV-1, from Edwards Air Force Base.![x_47b_UCAS_test]()
The existence of two X-47B enables Northrop Grumman to conduct faster and more productive flight tests.![Northrop Grumman X-47B first flight]()
Oct. 11, 2011: The U.S. Navy passed a first milestone for its futuristic new stealth drone when it successfully retracted its landing gear and flew in cruise configuration for the first time. Read more![x_47b_first_flight]()
The craft's first flight in cruise configuration provided an important measure of its maturity and readiness to begin the next phase of flight testing.![x_47b_early_designs]()
An early version of the X-47B, seen in 2010 on the runway in Palmdale, Calif.![Northrop Grumman X-47B]()
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The X-47B is unveiled.X-47B: the Navy's UFO-like stealth drone passes a milestone
The U.S. Navy conducted the first fly-in arrested landing of the X-47B, a tailless, strike fighter-sized unmanned aircraft designed to take off from and land on moving aircraft carriers at sea. Here's a brief look at the latest in the growing drone army.
Move Forward
- X-47B: the Navy's UFO-like stealth drone passes a milestone
