The inception of unmanned aircrafts was in 2000 when the United States Navy awarded two $2,000,000 contracts to Boeing and Northrop Grumman. They were then supposed to design a research and design an autonomous aircraft capable of being used in conjunction with aircraft carriers. Northrop Grumman’s autonomous aircraft …show more content…
On May 14th, 2013, the X-47B completed a catapult launch from an aircraft carrier. This was a great accomplishment because it was the first autonomous aircraft to be launched off of an aircraft carrier. This marks the beginning of the integration of unmanned aircraft on aircraft carriers. On July 10th, 2013, the X-47B completed an arrested landing on an aircraft carrier. The arrested landing brought the speed of the aircraft down from 145 knots to a full stop in less than 350 feet. This was a feat because it was the first arrested landing of a tailless unmanned aircraft on an aircraft carrier. This completes the integration of unmanned aircraft on aircraft carriers and proves that autonomous aircraft on aircraft carriers is possible. On April 22nd, 2015, the X-47B completed the first autonomous aerial refueling. Using the Navy’s probe-and-drogue method, an Omega K-707 tanker aircraft connected and transferred 4,000 pounds of fuel to the X-47B. This feat has given the Navy the ability to increase the range of future unmanned aircraft platforms. These accomplished feats prove that the X-47B can perform standard missions and operate seamlessly with manned aircraft as part of the Carrier Air Wing. It also helps the future of the Navy’s autonomous aviation and sets the stage for a more permanent, carrier-based fleet of unmanned