X-45A/X-45B/X-45C Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV)

Specifications

Company- The Boeing Company
Type- Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).
Goals- Demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous fighter aircraft.
Primary Testing Facility Research- Edwards AFB
Dimensions- Span- 33 ft, 10 in; Length- 26 ft, 6 in; Height- 6 ft, 8 in
Max Speed- N/A
Range- 375 miles
Service Ceiling- N/A
Power Plant- N/A
Thrust- N/A
Weights- Empty: 8,000 lbs; Loaded: 12,190 lbs
Payload- 3,000 lbs
Flights- N/A
Number of Prototypes Built- 2 (2 X-43A)
Project Tenure- 2000-2006
Project Status- Cancelled

Information

The Boeing X-45 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous fighter aircraft, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works (similar to Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division; acquired through McDonnell Douglas).

The X-45 is manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and is part of DARPA's J-UCAS project.

Boeing developed the X-45 from research gathered during the development of the Bird of Prey. The X-45 features an extremely low-profile dorsal intake placed near the leading edge of the aircraft. The center fuselage is blended into a swept lambda wing, with a small exhaust outlet. It has no vertical control surfaces - split ailerons near each wingtip function as asymmetric air brakes, providing rudder control, much as in Northrop's flying wings.

Removing the pilot and its associated facilities dramatically reduces the aircraft's cost. Operators may remotely command the aircraft, but the actual piloting is autonomous.

X-45A

Boeing built two of the model X-45A, both were scaled-down proof-of-concept aircraft. The first was completed by Boeing's Phantom Works in September, 2000. The goal of the X-45A technology demonstrator program was to develop the technologies needed to "conduct suppression of enemy air defense missions with unmanned combat air vehicles."The first generation of UCAVs are primarily planned for air-to-ground roles with defensive air-to-air capabilities coupled with significant remote piloting.

The X-45A had its first flight on May 22, 2002, and the second vehicle followed in November of that year. On April 18, 2004, the X-45A's first bombing run test at Edwards Air Force Base was successful; it hit a ground target with a 250-pound inert precision-guided weapon. On August 1, 2004, for the first time, two X-45As were controlled in flight simultaneously by one ground-controller.

On February 4, 2005, on their 50th flight, the two X-45As took off into a patrol pattern and were then alerted to the presence of a target. The X-45As then autonomously determined which vehicle held the optimum position, weapons (notional), and fuel load to properly attack the target. After making that decision, one of the X-45As changed course and the pilot-operator allowed it to attack the simulated antiaircraft emplacement. Following a successful strike, another simulated threat, this time disguised, emerged and was subsequently destroyed by the second X-45A. This demonstrated the ability of these vehicles to autonomously work as a team and manage their resources, as well as to fly themselves to previously-undetected targets, which is significantly harder than following a predetermined attack path.

After the completion of the flight test program, both X-45As were sent to museums, one to the National Air and Space Museum, and the other to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where it was inducted on November 13, 2006.

X-45B/C

The larger X-45B design was modified to have even more fuel capacity and three times greater combat range, becoming the X-45C. Each wing's leading edge spans from the nose to the wingtip, giving the aircraft more wing area, very similar to the B-2 Spirit. The first of the three planned X-45C aircraft was originally scheduled to be completed in 2006, with capability demonstrations scheduled for early 2007. By 2010 Boeing hoped to complete an autonomous aerial refueling of the X-45C by a KC-135 Stratotanker. Boeing has displayed a mock-up of the X-45C on static displays at many airshows.

The X-45C portion of the program received $767 million from DARPA in October, 2004, to construct and test three aircraft, along with several supplemental goals. In July, 2005 DARPA awarded an additional $175 million to continue the program, as well as implement autonomous Aerial Refueling technology.

As of March 2, 2006, the US Air Force has decided not to continue with the X-45 project. However, Boeing has recently submitted a proposal to the Navy for a carrier based demonstrator version of the X-45.

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