What: Members of the electronic, print and broadcast media are invited to participate in a media teleconference with U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman program managers to discuss the details of the historic first catapult launch of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS). The launch occurred Nov. 29 from the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. When: Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 Conference Check-In: 11:45 to 11:55 a.m. Eastern Media Teleconference: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Spokespersons: - Capt. Jaime Engdahl, USN Navy UCAS Program Manager - Carl Johnson, Vice President and Navy UCAS Program Manager Northrop Grumman Corporation Teleconference Call-in Details: U.S. (toll free): 877 740 2201 Pass code 3150312# Media Materials Availability: News Releases, File Photos, Broadcast-Quality B-roll, Including (YouTube addresses for B-roll, Navy segment) http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5197 Background: The X-47B is a tailless, strike fighter-sized unmanned system currently under development by Northrop Grumman as part of the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. Under a contract awarded in 2007, the company has designed, developed and is currently producing two X-47B aircraft. In the 2013 timeframe, these aircraft will be used to demonstrate the first carrier-based launches and recoveries by an autonomous, low-observable relevant unmanned aircraft. The UCAS-D program will also be used to mature relevant carrier landing and integration technologies, and to demonstrate autonomous aerial refueling by the X-47B aircraft. UCAS-D is designed to help the U.S. Navy explore the future of unmanned carrier aviation. A successful UCAS-D flight test program, including a series of successful carrier-based launches and recoveries, will help set the stage for the development of a more permanent, carrier-based fleet of unmanned aircraft.