US Navy takes step in testing robotic fighter

[Max 86]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/singularity ... ner=obtech

"The Navy’s robotic fighter just got one step closer to earning its wings. The X-47B, an unmanned stealth attack jet, has completed the first major phase of flight testing on its way to become the first aircraft to be able to land and take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier –completely autonomously.

After its first successful flight on February 4, 2011 at Edwards Air Force Base – a short, 29 minute jaunt to 5,000 feet – the X-47B has now climbed to as much as 15,000 feet. The testing, which concluded on May 15, ran the jet through multiple maneuvers that are essential for using an aircraft carrier as its base of operations including extending and retracting a tail hook needed to catch the carrier’s arresting wires upon landing and “touch-and-go” landings."

Skynet...coming to a world near you![X(]

Seriously though, technology continues to improve exponentially.

[doomtrader]

It's a right time to buy assault rifle and RPG launcher and start digging the shelter.

[redcoat]

A few photos of the X-47B (UCAV) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, yesterday.

[Jeffrey H.]

Looks like they've learned a few tricks from the B-2.

[histgamer]

Looks like it would probably have a pretty small payload by the size. F-117ish small.

[ilovestrategy]

All I can think of is a Cylon and "By your command"

[descaldera]

Seems cool.

My favorite iphone puzzle game: itunes.apple.com/us/app/furmins-hd/id473642594?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4.

[Titanwarrior89]

Looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.

[planner 3]

Ah ! My first duty station, (NATC Patuxent River, MD.) and my last duty station, sure brings back memories. But these planes don't have props ? How do they fly ? Oh I get it.....GLIDERS

[Neilster]

It displays typical features of an aircraft designed to reduce its signature across the electromagnetic spectrum. The flying wing is a stealthy shape, and is suited to subsonic aircraft. It also provides the volume to house internal ordnance, which is vital because external stores ruin one's RCS (Radar Cross Section).

You'll notice there are basically no right-angles, because they act like cat's-eyes to radar energy. The geometry is designed to reflect radar energy away from whence it came and we can assume there is quite a lot of RAM (Radar Absorbing Material) on the leading edges etc. The undercarriage is hidden away whilst operational and the weapons bay doors of stealth aircraft are both designed to minimise RCS and to be only opened very briefly.

The air intake is on the upper surface which helps hide the front face of the engine from surface based radars. We can assume a slightly serpentine intake with more RAM as well. The exhaust is shaped and has features to reduce the infra-red signature and it looks like some bypass air is mixed with the hot exhaust. As this is a demonstrator, it won't have an operational electronics suite but typically this will include lots of passive sensors and possibly LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) radar and comms links.

Cheers, Neilster

[Jeffrey H.]

Notice how the hot aft deck is physically isolated from the edge structures. I would expect the secondary air is being passed around the floating nozzle, including the underside.

[jomni]

become the first aircraft to be able to land and take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier –completely autonomously.

 
Does that mean it can land on a carrier without any human intervention?  Or is it a case where there's still a human pilot like current UAV's.
If it lands under complete autopilot on a carrier like some airliners do in airports, then that's quite cool!  Even manned carrier aircraft don't land under the control of autopilot.