US Navy Stealth Strike Drone: Meet the X-47B

The development of the X-47B began in 2007, when the US Navy awarded a contracts to two aerospace companies, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, to develop prototypes of UCAVs. The X-47B was developed by Northrop Grumman, and it was designed to be a stealthy, tailless aircraft that could operate autonomously or be remotely piloted. Though development costs were quite significant (reaching nearly $1.5 billion by 2015- almost $2 billion on 2023) the program meshed well with evolving Navy requirements .The X-47B was unique in that it was the first UCAV to be developed specifically for use by the US Navy, and it was designed to operate from aircraft carriers.
It was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F100-220U turbofan engine and had a maximum takeoff weight of 44,567 pounds (20,215 kg). It had a range of 2,400 miles (3,900 km, 2,100 nmi).

The UCAS is equipped with electro-optics (EO), infrared (IR), synthetic aperture radar (SAR), inverse SAR, ground moving target indicator (GMTI), electronic support measures (ESM), and maritime moving target indicator (MMTI) sensors.

It has two internal weapons bays capable of carrying up to 4,500 pounds (2,041 kg) of ordnance, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and Small Diameter Bombs (SDB).

A lesser-known fact about the X-47B is its nickname, "Salty Dog," given to the aircraft during its testing on aircraft carriers. This moniker is a nod to the United States Navy tradition of referring to experienced sailors as "Salty Dogs."


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