ABOARD THE USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH — The Navy successfully landed a drone the size of a fighter jet aboard an aircraft carrier for the first time Wednesday, showcasing the military’s capability to have a computer program perform one of the most difficult tasks a pilot is asked to do.
The landing of the X-47B experimental aircraft means the Navy can move forward with its plans to develop another unmanned aircraft that will join the fleet alongside traditional airplanes to provide around-the-clock surveillance while also possessing a strike capability. It would pave the way for the U.S. to launch unmanned aircraft without the need to obtain permission from other countries to use their bases.
The X-47B will never be put into operational use, but it will help Navy officials develop future carrier-based drones that could begin operating by 2020, Rear Adm. Mat Winter said. Four companies are expected to compete for a contract to design the unmanned aircraft.
