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Aviation / Aerospace

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.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
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
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Northrop Grumman - USA
Manufacturer(s)
United States
Operators National flag of the United States
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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