What: Members of the electronic, print and broadcast media are invited to participate in a media teleconference to discuss the details of the first-ever autonomous aerial refueling of an unmanned aircraft. The X-47B successfully completed the test event April 22 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

When: April 23

• Conference Check-In: 1:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern
• Media Teleconference: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Spokespersons:

• Capt. Beau Duarte, Unmanned Carrier Aviation program manager
• Pablo Gonzalez, Northrop Grumman UCAS program manager

Teleconference Call-in Details:

• Dial in - (605) 475-6006
• Participant Code - 9669137#

Contact:

Jamie Cosgrove, (240) 925-5305, [email protected]

Media Materials Availability: Will be available Thursday a.m.

Background:

The Navy conducted an autonomous aerial refueling (AAR) flight test with the X-47B April 22 off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, marking the first time an unmanned aircraft has received fuel airborne using the probe-and-drogue method.

While in-flight, the X-47B then autonomously maneuvered its fixed refueling probe into the tanker’s drogue, also known as the basket, the same way a Navy pilot would refuel a manned aircraft. The UAS received fuel and safely disconnected from the tanker, successfully completing the first contact flight.

This AAR evaluation completes the final objectives of the Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration program. Over the last few years, the X-47B conducted five carrier demonstrations, showcasing the Navy’s commitment to unmanned carrier aviation through operations in and around the flight deck and maturing an AAR capability.

 Read full story here:

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=5880