US Launches Drone From Aircraft Carrier

[Karee 4,191]

By BROCK VERGAKIS Associated Press

ABOARD THE USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH May 14, 2013 (AP)

A drone the size of a fighter jet took off from the deck of an American aircraft carrier for the first time Tuesday in a test flight that could eventually open the way for the U.S. to launch unmanned aircraft from just about any place in the world.

The X-47B is the first drone designed to take off and land on a carrier, meaning the U.S. military would not need permission from other countries to use their bases.

"As our access to overseas ports, forward operating locations and airspace is diminished around the world, the value of the aircraft carrier and the air wing becomes more and more important," Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic, said after the flight off the Virginia coast. "So today is history."

The move to expand the capabilities of the nation's drones comes amid growing criticism of America's use of Predators and Reapers to gather intelligence and carry out lethal missile attacks against terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.

Critics in the U.S. and abroad have charged that drone strikes cause widespread civilian deaths and are conducted with inadequate oversight.

Still, defense analysts say drones are the future of warfare.

The new Joint Strike Fighter jet "might be the last manned fighter the U.S. ever builds. They're so expensive, they're so complex, and you put a human at risk every time it takes off from a carrier," said James Lewis, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"This is the next generation of military technology — the unmanned vehicles, the unmanned submersibles, the unmanned aircraft. This will be the future of warfare, and it will be a warfare that is a little less risky for humans but maybe a little more effective when it comes to delivering weapons and effect."

While the X-47B isn't intended for operational use, it will help Navy officials develop future carrier-based drones. Those drones could begin operating by 2020, according to Rear Adm. Mat Winter, the Navy's program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons.

The X-47B is far bigger than the Predator, has three times the range and can be programmed to carry out missions with no human intervention, the Navy said.

While the X-47B isn't a stealth aircraft, it was designed with the low profile of one. That will help in the development of future stealth drones, which would be valuable as the military changes its focus from the Middle East to the Pacific, where a number of countries' air defenses are a lot stronger than Afghanistan's.

"Unmanned systems would be the likely choice in a theater or an environment that was highly defended or dangerous where we wouldn't want to send manned aircraft," Branch said.

During Tuesday's flight, the X-47B used a steam catapult to launch, just as traditional Navy warplanes do. The unarmed aircraft then made two low approaches toward the aircraft carrier as it if was going to land, before being waved off and returning to a higher altitude. The jet then landed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland about an hour later.

The next critical test for the tailless plane will come this summer, when it attempts to land on a moving aircraft carrier, one of the most difficult tasks for Navy pilots.

Earlier this month, the X-47B successfully landed at the air station using a tailhook to catch a cable and bring it to a quick stop, just as planes setting down on carriers have to do.

Source:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/navy-launch-unmanned-aircraft-carrier-19173706#.UZNxSUrov80

[GandD 5,966]

Say what you want about drone strikes, the technology is quite interesting.

[SMR 368]

Does anybody else think that taking off is probably child's play compared to landing?

Given a big enough catapult, anything can take off. All you have to do is keep it right side up and pointing the right way and make sure you get control of it before it comes back down.

Landing, that's more interesting.

[Karee 4,191]

Does anybody else think that taking off is probably child's play compared to landing?

Given a big enough catapult, anything can take off. All you have to do is keep it right side up and pointing the right way and make sure you get control of it before it comes back down.

Landing, that's more interesting.

I got my private pilot's license about 10 years ago whatever that's worth. Landings were definitely more difficult.

[GandD 5,966]

I got my private pilot's license about 10 years ago whatever that's worth. Landings were definitely more difficult.

Geez moneybags

[Karee 4,191]

Geez moneybags

It took me 2.5 years to get it @ 65.00 an hour.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

And perhaps someday, remote controlled aircraft carriers.

[mota bhai 2,675]

In an ideal world, this means better recon, fewer wars and fewer casualties.

We don't live in that world, though.

[Darnell 8,479]

Yay Navy ! Go Navy !

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The 2nd Amendment gives all US citizens the right to own and fly their own drones. Microsoft will soon be releasing Windows Drone, with special software compatible with all available drones. Can a country be truly free without unlimited, private drone ownership? Soon EVERYONE in Vermont will be flying drones.

[duraaraa 203]

Microsoft will soon be releasing Windows Drone, with special software compatible with all available drones.

Ugh, I hope not. First, you'll have to go through Windows Product Activation, then the drones will start getting slower for unknown reasons, and start crashing.

[Darnell 8,479]

MicroSlob? No la - open source software, for the dronages.

[GandD 5,966]

The 2nd Amendment gives all US citizens the right to own and fly their own drones. Microsoft will soon be releasing Windows Drone, with special software compatible with all available drones. Can a country be truly free without unlimited, private drone ownership? Soon EVERYONE in Vermont will be flying drones.

Someone misses Gary.

[duraaraa 203]

MicroSlob? No la - open source software, for the dronages.

Yes, but do you license it BSD or GPL?

[Darnell 8,479]

cute, and for this , won't matter. there are other OSS thingies that have neither, ya know.