The second X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator aircraft during its maiden flight. The flight marks another milestone for the UCAV program, and verified the aircraft's flight control software
The second X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator completed its first flight on November 21, 2002, after taking off from a dry lakebed at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California. X-45A vehicle two flew for approximately 30 minutes and reached an airspeed of 195 knots and an altitude of 7500 feet. This flight validated the functionality of the UCAV flight software on the second air vehicle. Dryden is supporting the DARPA/Boeing team in the design, development, integration, and demonstration of the critical technologies, processes, and system attributes leading to an operational UCAV system. Dryden support of the X-45A demonstrator system includes analysis, component development, simulations, ground and flight tests.
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Details
NASA ID
EC02-0267-1
Date Created
November 21, 2002
Center
AFRC
Media Type
image
Photographer
NASA/Jim Ross
Location
AFRC
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