Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) [ 2003 ]

The Northrop Grumman X-47A UCAV was designed with combat capabilities from the start.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/17/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The X-47A "Pegasus" stealthy technology demonstrator Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) began as a private venture by defense powerhouse Northrop Grumman. The aircraft was originally a participant in the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program which also included the competing Boeing X-45 demonstrator. The J-UCAS program existed until terminated in 2006. From this work was born the UCAS-D program of the United States Navy (USN), reintroducing the X-47A Pegasus as a spring-board product to the more advanced X-47B carrier-based UCAV.

Design work on the aircraft began after a Navy contract was secured in 2001. Northrop engineers elected for a tailless, diamond-shaped planform lacking vertical surfaces of any kind. The fuselage was blended into the main wing units which sported 55-degree sweep. The engine was buried in a bulge at center with a sliver intake opening above the nose of the aircraft to aspirate the single engine installation. This became a Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5C turbofan engine of 3,190lbs thrust. The X-47A - as it was designated - was given a fully-working, fully-retractable wheeled tricycle undercarriage. An internal bomb bay was integrated into the design but never utilized during testing. Construction included use of composites. The X-47A recorded its first flight on February 23rd, 2003 at China Lake in California.

Dimensions included length of 27.9 feet, a wingspan 27.8 feet and a height of 6 feet. Empty listed weight was 3,835lb with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 5,900lbs. Known performance specifications included a service ceiling above 40,000 feet and a range in excess of 2,780 kilometers.

No longer in active testing, the X-47A was given up by the USN in favor of the promising X-47B whose program has since completed several well-publicized milestones including launching from, and landing on, a carrier deck (USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77).©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Northrop Grumman - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States
Operators

2003
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Retired
Project Status

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

1
Units

GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

X-PLANE
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.

UNMANNED
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.

27.9 ft
(8.50 meters)
Length

27.9 ft
(8.50 meters)
Width/Span

6.2 ft
(1.90 meters)
Height

3,836 lb
(1,740 kilograms)
Empty Weight

4,850 lb
(2,200 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+1,014 lb
(+460 kg)
Weight Difference

1 x Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5C turbofan engine developing 3,200lb of thrust.
Propulsion

1,740 miles
(2,800 km | 1,512 nm)
Range

None - this is a proof of concept technology demonstrator.

X-47A - Initial land-based technology demonstrator UCAV.

X-47B - Navalized X-47A technology demonstrator for possible procurement by US Navy for carrier-based operations.

X-47C - Englarged X-47A with increased weapons load.

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