Navy drone makes history with refueling maneuver. How cool is that?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 06:21:44 -0400

"The latest version of unmanned naval aerial combat vehicles achieved another first on Wednesday when it conducted its first aerial refueling test, the Navy announced.

While flying off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, the X-47B, an unmanned vehicle designed to eventually operate off naval aircraft carriers, successfully connected to an Omega K-707 refueling tanker and received more than 4,000 pounds of fuel, the Navy said in a press release.

"What we accomplished today demonstrates a significant, groundbreaking step forward for the Navy," Capt. Beau Duarte, the manager for the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation program, said in the release. "The ability to autonomously transfer and receive fuel in flight will increase the range and flexibility of future unmanned aircraft platforms, ultimately extending carrier power projection."

This is the latest in a series of firsts for the remotely piloted plane that the Navy hopes to develop into a battle-ready aircraft that can operate safely alongside its manned counterparts aboard aircraft carriers."
In 2013, an X-47B became the first unmanned aircraft to take off and land from an aircraft carrier, although all other aircraft were removed from the deck before the test flight. Last year, it became the first such aircraft to take off and land alongside a manned plane, an F/A-18 Hornet on the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

It was not known going into the test whether the aircraft would be able to effectively maneuver its probe used to take in fuel with the tanker's drogue, also called the basket, in the same way a pilot would be able to position their aircraft in a refueling operation.

"In manned platforms, aerial refueling is a challenging maneuver because of the precision required by the pilot to engage the basket," Duarte said. "Adding an autonomous functionality creates another layer of complexity."

A part of the Navy's Unmanned-Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike system, the X-47B will eventually be developed into follow on aircraft the Navy hopes to deploy into operation in 2020 or beyond.

Read the full story here: http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/22/politics/navy-aircraft-makes-history/index.html

Navy drone makes history - CNNPolitics.com

The latest version of unmanned naval aerial combat vehicles achieved another first on Wednesday when it conducted its first aerial refueling test, the Navy announced.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 6:23 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 06:23:06 -0400

AWESOME! Thanks for sharing! That's a sweet looking drone as well. I had to look twice!

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 26 at 2015 6:26 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 06:26:45 -0400

Deep Support in Washington for C.I.A.’s Drone Missions

Unwavering support from Capitol Hill is but one reason the C.I.A.’s killing missions are unlikely to change significantly, despite the revelation Thursday that a drone strike had killed two hostages.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 26 at 2015 6:30 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 06:30:55 -0400

Here is a video of the actual refueling . . .

http://uk.reuters.com/video/2015/04/23/first-successful-aerial-refueling-of-a-d?videoId=363971371&videoChannel=4000&channelName=Technology

First successful aerial refueling of a drone

The bat-wing U.S. Navy drone that became the first autonomous airplane to take off and land on an aircraft carrier accomplishes yet another milestone, becoming the first unmanned aircraft to undergo aerial refueling. Ben Gruber reports.

Response by TSgt David L. made Apr 26 at 2015 7:50 AM

TSgt David L. — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 07:50:21 -0400

Interesting article GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad. The manned aviation folks must be pissed about UCAV drones making that kind of progress. At the least they have to be a little worried about unmanned vehicle mission creep.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 10:02 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 10:02:23 -0400

Next thing you know there will be something called "skynet" that becomes the "Internet of Everything". No....wait.....oh damn..

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 7:26 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 19:26:49 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad. What amazes me is the tanker in this refueling rendezvous is a commercial aircraft fully equipped to conduct aerial refueling for virtually any of USDOD or allied aircraft . . . and they don't charge your unit for anything other than the government priced gas you take! It's like ordering up a pizza . . . meet me at these MGRS coordinates . . . expedited fuel delivery in flight anywhere. Warmest Regards, Sandy

http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/vms/

Omega Air Refueling

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Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Apr 28 at 2015 1:24 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 13:24:04 -0400

In keeping with the Navy's tradition of never doing anything like any other service, we need to come up with a suitable synonym for "drone"...

Remember... the Navy doesn't have "pilots"... we have "Naval Aviators"... (you're missing my grossly exaggerated eyeball-rolling...)

Standing by!
(chuckles maniacally)

Response by SN Craig Ralston made Apr 30 at 2015 4:44 PM

SN Craig Ralston — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:44:27 -0400

That is amazing, BUT now does this mean that in the not so near future the Navy will be cutting down its flight crew numbers needed? I can see the need for less personnel to maintain an efficient CAP with these in place.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 4 at 2015 5:08 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 04 May 2015 17:08:06 -0400

Wasn't this posted a week or so ago? :-)