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
Source: Flight International
