The X-47B taxis in the TRUMAN's landing area among F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighters and an H-60 helicopter. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Kristina Young)
Like just about everybody connected with the Navy, the folks on the USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75) took time this weekend to watch Navy once again get the better of Army in the annual football smackdown. But the TRUMAN crew also is out to sea, hard at work, and they’re testing a new aircraft, the X-47B prototype strike jet. It’s the first time the new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has gotten wet with salty sea spray.
Look closely at these pics, taken Sunday, Dec. 9, as the ship maneuvered off the mid-Atlantic coast. For years, computer-aided illustrations have portrayed a carrier of the future, showing bat-wing UAVs that look a whole lot like this puppy, tucked among the normal flight deck clutter.
But this time, that’s not photoshop. It’s the real thing, driving around F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighters, C-2A Greyhound logistics aircraft, and H-60 helicopters. Sailors, engineers and members of the Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) program office (PMA-268) aboard the TRUMAN are learning how the aircraft maneuvers on and off elevators, over arresting gear wires, around a crowded hangar, and hooking up to catapults.
The aircraft was hoisted aboard TRUMAN at Norfolk on Nov. 26, and the carrier is undertaking about three weeks of tests with the unmanned system. A sister aircraft — the Navy has two X-47Bs, both delivered from Northrop Grumman — made the UCAS program’s first catapult launch Nov. 29, taking off from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
While the current round of tests on the TRUMAN is centered on testing handling and control characteristics, officials have not ruled out a flight test if all conditions are nominal.
Another view of the TRUMAN with the X-47B. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Kristina Young)
This closeup view gives an idea of the relative size of the UAV.
All four of the carrier's steam catapults are visible in this view, two at the forward end of the ship and two more at the fore end of the angled deck landing area. The X-47B is designed specifically for carrier operations, with strengthened landing gear and folding wings. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Kristina Young)
The X-47B maneuvering around the TRUMAN's flight deck. Sailors are getting used to the idea of a jet aircraft driving around the ship with no one in the cockpit. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 David R. Finley Jr)
The operator in the green vest and white helmet, just right of center, is wearing an arm-mounted control display unit (CDU) to remotely control the aircraft. A Navy press release from the ship quoted Gerrit Everson, one of the operators, saying, "these tests proved that we can taxi the X-47B with the precision that an aircraft carrier’s flight deck requires.” (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 David R. Finley Jr.)
VIDEO: Maneuvering on the flight deck, with control unit at :32 
VIDEO: View from the carrier’s island as the X-47B drives on the flight deck 
VIDEO: Overall views of TRUMAN underway with X-47B on deck 
Drones continue rapid development as Parliament begins to grapple with the issue « Drone Wars UK
[...] European countries had its first flight from a base in France. Across the Atlantic meanwhile, the new X-47b combat drone has begun sea trials aboard a US aircraft carrier (see photos above). Both of these drones are significant developments beyond the current [...]
CLAUDE SCHWANGER
How is it at landing on that big lady
Eric Larson
..yeah, especially in weather
at night
:(
Kit Plummer
Computers are better pilots than humans. Assuming they get all the right inputs. ;)
Ulises
That X-47B is awesome
MICHAEL LAWSON
THIS IS A GREAT MOVEMENT IN NAVAL HISTORY , KEEP UP THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THE WORLD , GREAT JOB NAVY !!!!
Brendon Carr
The Navy’s decision to abolish the historic Aviation Working Green uniform is beginning to make a little more sense. There won’t be any pilots to feel special about their green wool serge and brown shoes.
Awesome!!! « vive ut vivas
[...] First pics: X-47B Unmanned Aircraft at sea aboard carrier TRUMAN. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...]
Angelo 68
I’m not so enthusiast with X-47. Even if every new aircraft of the world is the welcome, embarking a drone on a carrier will make piloted naval aviation evanish at all. Naval air ops will loose their glamour and the reader his interest.
Taylor Richards
Beautiful photos of such a great moment in aviation history. I hope to write a technological paper on X-47B very soon.
Sign of The Times: X-47B on the Truman, J-15 on the Liaoning. | Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things
[...] media quick to pick up on the X-47B carrier integration testing. Defense News also covering. I wonder how long it takes the PLAN to begin arrested UAV testing on carriers? Ten [...]
Rick Denessen
OUTSTANDING! Our tax dollars finally put to good use! Looks good, and haven’t heard any “negatives” about it at all! Standing by for “lift-off”, Captain!
Putt, Sam
Very interesting, yet parsimonious release of information about
this revolutionary aircraft. Seems to reflect lots of photography
during a pretty short period of time. But hey, I’m not complaining,
Having served as an AO3 in VF-61 under the command of
Commander Jon (John?) E. Thomas aboard the Lake Champlain
and Intrepid I appreciate any info about the modern U.S. Navy!!