GRAHAM WARWICK / ST LOUIS
But construction of a fully-operational flying demonstrator has not been ruled out
Boeing is putting forward a lower-cost approach to the US Navy's planned naval unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV-N) technology demonstration.
The company has submitted a proposal to demonstrate aircraft-carrier operations using a Boeing F/A-18 Hornet as a manned surrogate for the UCAV-N, with a full-scale ground test vehicle being used to evaluate deck-handling operations.
The approach is less costly and risky than building and flying a full-scale UCAV-N demonstrator, says Boeing Phantom Works programme manager Bill Bushelle. However, the company has offered the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Navy the higher-cost option of building a flyable demonstrator, designated the X-46A.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman are defining UCAV-N operational concepts and demonstrator systems under DARPA/USN funding. Northrop Grumman plans to fly the company-funded X-47A Pegasus experimental unmanned vehicle later this year to reduce risk in its proposed X-47B UCAV-N flying demonstrator.
Under Boeing's preferred proposal, a US Navy flight-test F/A-18 with reconfigurable flight control computer would be programmed to reproduce the flying characteristics of the company's tailless, flying-wing UCAV-N design. The manned aircraft would demonstrate launch and recovery operations at a simulated land-based carrier deck. A full-scale model of the UCAV-N, with electrically driven wheels, would be used for deck-handling demonstrations. The vehicle would have a weapons bay and bomb rack to allow re-arming and refuelling operations to be demonstrated, Bushelle says.
DARPA plans to award contracts to both companies for the three-year Phase 2 demonstration phase beginning in January. A third technology readiness phase is expected before the UCAV-N enters development, Bushelle says. The navy is looking at fielding the vehicle around 2015.
Boeing's vehicle is smaller than a Hornet - similar to a McDonnell Douglas A-4, Bushelle says - but larger than the US Air Force's UCAV. The first of two X-45 demonstrators, built by the Phantom Works for the DARPA/USAF, is expected to fly this year.
The UCAV-N is larger because the navy wants the vehicle to perform a 12h surveillance mission as well as carry 1,800kg (4,000lb) of munitions up to 1,200km (650nm) on the defence-suppression and strike missions intended for the air force UCAV.
The navy also plans to operate the UCAV-N continuously, alongside manned aircraft, whereas the USAF concept is to store the vehicle between operations.
The X-46 and X-47 programmes are crucial to the US Navy if the prophecy of the US Navy Secretary Gordon England is to come true.
Recently England said the Joint Strike Fighter will be the USN's last combat aircraft: "We need to reverse our thinking. We should instead think about unmanned systems that are augmented by manned systems,".
Source: Flight International
