http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/71168
美海軍/諾格公司研製的X-47B驗證機進行首次巡航飛行
2011-10-12
[據法國宇航防禦網2011年10月11日報導] 美國海軍/諾斯羅普•格魯曼公司的X-47B無人作戰空中系統驗證飛機9月30日在愛德華空軍基地實現了一個重要的里程碑,飛機收起起落架,首次以巡航構型飛行。
此次飛行還有助於驗證精確導航軟硬體,這些軟硬體將允許X-47B精確著陸於航母移動甲板上。
諾•格公司航宇系統部門副總裁兼海軍無人作戰空中系統(UCAS)專案經理賈尼斯•帕米爾詹斯(Janis Pamiljans)表示:“此次飛行試驗使我們首次清楚地看到了X-47B空中系統的空氣動力巡航性能……證實了我們的全部預計。這一關鍵試驗節點的實現,證明系統的成熟度正不斷提升,並為進入下一階段飛行試驗做好了準備。”
這次飛行是正在進行中的“封包擴展”(envelope expansion)計畫的一部分,針對諾•格公司為美國海軍無人作戰飛機演示驗證專案(UCAS-D)生產的兩架X-47B飛機中的第一架。封包擴展飛行旨在驗證多種高度、速度和載油量條件下的飛機性能。
UCAS-D專案計畫在2011年晚期向美國馬里蘭州帕圖森河(Patuxent River)海軍航空站移交飛機,以在2012年開始岸基運輸平臺的適應性試驗。專案的重點是在2013年驗證首次從航母發射並回收一架無尾翼、低可觀測的無人系統。(中國航太工程諮詢中心 侯丹 王宜曉)
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/129466/x_47b-unmanned-aircraft-flies-in-cruise-mode.html
Gear Up! U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman X-47B Demonstrator Flies in Cruise Mode for First Time
(Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued October 10, 2011)
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --- The U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman Corporation X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft reached a major milestone Sept. 30 when it retracted its landing gear and flew in its cruise configuration for the first time.
The flight, conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, also helped validate precision navigation hardware and software that will allow the X-47B to land with precision on the moving deck of an aircraft carrier.
"Last week's flight gave us our first clean look at the aerodynamic cruise performance of the X-47B air system...and it is proving out all of our predictions," said Janis Pamiljans, vice president and Navy UCAS program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Reaching this critical test point demonstrates the growing maturity of the air system, and its readiness to move to the next phase of flight testing."
The recent flight was part of an on-going "envelope expansion" program for the first of two X-47B aircraft produced by Northrop Grumman for the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. Envelope expansion flights are used to demonstrate aircraft performance under a variety of altitude, speed and fuel load conditions.
The UCAS-D program plans to begin transitioning aircraft to Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md. in late 2011 to begin shore-based carrier suitability testing in 2012. The focal point of the program is to demonstrate in 2013 the first aircraft carrier launches and recoveries by a tailless, low-observable-relevant unmanned system.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
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