UCAV/UAV/UAS News and discussion 2015

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Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 12,109

Predator B with a maritime radar pod (From Stephen Trimble, Twitter)

http://s12.postimg.org/xyz47qtb1/Predator_B_Maritime.png

Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 12,109

X-47B Drone Set For Refueling Test Tomorrow

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD: “Tomorrow, actually, the weather looks good,” said Capt. Beau Duarte, the Navy’s head of carrier-launched drone programs — at least, he added cautiously, as of “right now.”

If the weather holds, the Navy’s experimental X-47B drone will refuel in mid-air — the first time an unmanned aircraft has ever done so. On previous tests, the X-47B has maneuvered to within 30 feet of a flying tanker, holding position just behind the trailing fuel hose called a drogue. Tomorrow, using a new optical sensor rather than the high-precision GPS that has guided it on previous flights and carrier landings, the X-47B will close the gap and insert its refueling probe into the drogue.

http://breakingdefense.com/2015/04/robot-to-get-tanked-x-47b-drone-set-for-refueling-test-tomorrow/

NAVAIR: Aerial Refueling Will End X-47B Test Program, Salty Dogs Bound for Museums or Boneyard

http://breakingdefense.com/2015/04/robot-to-get-tanked-x-47b-drone-set-for-refueling-test-tomorrow/

http://s17.postimg.org/toazn8gr3/X_47.jpg

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12 years 3 months

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I think you can drop the sophisticated cAPITALIzing here ;)

... Especially when Northrop, once more, the same day, made history qUIETLYyyy

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19 years 9 months

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History will be made in a few days. They haven't yet transferred fuel ;).

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12 years 3 months

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hOLDIng on my breath, so...

But wasn't making contact with the basket the real difficult part?

Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 12,109

But wasn't making contact with the basket the real difficult part?

Probably but they are going through the entire thing and then will eventually transfer fuel before shutting down the program.

Member for

14 years 2 months

Posts: 4,619

I oNLy do wHAt im tOLd.

Are we only to report on American developments now? Or should I repeat the refuelling story again and again. I'm not actually that impressed by the refuelling. Its just a developmental process and I'm sure NG have much loftier goals that will one day come to light.

And it was a very nice picture of nEUORn :angel:

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12 years 3 months

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Didn't notice it at first, but it seems as if they made some rework on the underside (lately):

First sortie Decimomannu

[ATTACH=CONFIG]236830[/ATTACH]

Picture of the early March:

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