Northrop Grumman X-47B – Photos & Videos

The Northrop Grumman X-47B is a demonstration unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) designed for aircraft carrier-based operations. Developed by the American defense technology company Northrop Grumman, the X-47 project began as part of DARPA’s J-UCAS program, and subsequently became part of the United States Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. The X-47B is a tailless jet-powered blended-wing-body aircraft capable of semi-autonomous operation and aerial refueling.

Source: Northrop Grumman X-47B on Wikipedia

The Northrop Grumman X-47B is a demonstration aircraft designed to test the feasibility of operating unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) from aircraft carriers. The X-47B is a tailless, jet-powered, stealthy aircraft that can perform autonomous takeoffs, landings, and aerial refueling. The X-47B is the result of a collaboration between the U.S. Navy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and is intended to demonstrate the potential of UCAVs for strike missions in high-threat environments.
The X-47B made its first flight in 2011, and successfully completed its first carrier-based launch and recovery in 2013. The X-47B program was concluded in 2015, after achieving several milestones and setting records for UCAV performance. The X-47B is considered a precursor to the Navy’s planned MQ-25 Stingray program, which aims to develop a carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling system.