X-45As in Simulated Combat Mission
Posted on: Friday, 4 November 2005, 03:00 CST
By Anonymous
Two Boeing Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45A unmanned aircraft have successfully completed a simulated combat mission at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. For test flights 63 and 64, the X-45As departed from the base, climbed to altitude, and autonomously used their on-board decision-making software to determine the best route of flight within the "area of action" or AOA. The pilot on the ground approved the plan and the two unmanned vehicles entered the AOA, a 30 by 60 mile area within the test range, ready to perform a simulated Preemptive Destruction-Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission. The mission involved identifying, attacking and destroying pre- identified ground-based radars and associated missile launchers before they could be used to launch surface-to-air missiles.
The two aircraft performed a simulated Preemptive Destruction- Suppression of Enemy Air Defences mission
During the test flight, the X-45A unmanned aircraft faced a simulated "pop-up" threat, used evasive manoeuvres to avoid it, and autonomously determined which vehicle held the optimum position, weapons and fuel to attack the higher priority simulated target. Once the pilot authorized the attack, the unmanned aircraft simulated dropping weapons on the target. After engaging and destroying a second simulated target, the two X-45As completed their mission and safely returned to Edwards.
The next step for Boeing is to build and flight test three X-45C aircraft, two mission control elements, and integrate the J-UCAS Common Operating System (the software used and tested on the X-45A may be offered as a candidate for functionality in the development of the J-UCAS Common Operating System ). The first X-45C will be completed in 2006, with flight test scheduled to begin in 2007. It will be 39 feet long with a 49-foot wingspan, cruise at 0.80 Mach at an altitude of 40,000 feet, carry a 4,500 pound weapon payload, and be able to fly a combat radius of more than 1,200 nautical miles.
Copyright Aerospace Media Publishing Autumn 2005
Source: Interavia
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