WASHINGTON – It’s 7 feet (2.1 meters) high and 27 feet (8.2 meters) long and weighs 8,000 pounds (3,630 kilograms). It can carry 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) of weapons. But the latest U.S. ‘X’ plane – X for experimental -- doesn’t carry a pilot. And its eyes can be provided courtesy of orbiting
satellites.
Boeing has built the X-45A research craft that is the latest in a series of pilotless airborne
robots that can snoop on U.S. adversaries and, if needed, deliver a knockout blow of bombs and missiles, all without risking the life of a pilot.
The UCAV air vehicle.
The concept is called "Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle" or UCAV. And while the flying robots look like a miniature version of a stealth bomber, its price tag is decidedly cheaper -- about $131 million in development funds, divided up amongst U.S. defense research organizations including the Air Force and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Boeing itself put up $21 million for the effort, which began in March of last year.
The robot concept went from drawing board to test craft in 42 months.
The idea is to eventually launch fleets of the winged ships flying in groups, but without active control from the ground.
With their
missions loaded into each craft’s flight computer, the UCAVs would carry out dangerous and high-priority combat assignments without risking the lives of military pilots or multimillion-dollar planes. The UCAVs are not meant to replace combat aircraft but to supplement their operations.
"The development and deployment of UCAVs could significantly increase the effectiveness and survivability of manned fighter aircraft while lowering the overall cost of combat operations," said George Muellner, vice president of Boeing’s St. Louis Phantom Works where the craft are built.
The robot planes are projected to cost up to 65 percent less to build than future versions of fighters and up to 75 percent less to operate than today’s fighters. Advanced computers, software and space navigation satellites would take the place of extensive ground-based control facilities.
Defense planners envision cramming the UCAVs with sophisticated equipment and loading target data into their computers before launch. The robot fleet would then take off and carry out their assignments.
Flying back to their bases, they could be quickly prepared for another flight or dismantled and placed in small storage containers. The UCAVs can last for up to 10 years in storage awaiting their next flight. Control systems can be replaced with more advanced designs and flight guidance systems that will use secure,
satellite relay links.
"By tapping into all technical capabilities and intellectual talent that exists across the defense, commercial and space elements of our company we are using the best of Boeing to produce an advanced concept that will be as affordable as it is effective," said Dave Swain, president of the Phantom Works.
The X-45A is the latest in a series of experimental research craft that began with
the X-1 rocket plane in 1947 and includes the X-33 and X-34 advanced reusable space launchers now under development by NASA.
By the end of the month the prototype UCAVs will be shipped to NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California. First airborne flight trials will begin in the spring, with a full simulation of UCAVs attacking enemy
air defense systems in mid 2002.
Other U.S. aerospace contractors are developing different prototypes of the UCAV concept. If the tests validate the idea, defense planners hope to deploy the robot airships in the post-2010 time period.
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