US Navy’s UCLASS / CBARS / MQ-XX / MQ-25 Stingray Program

[VTOLicious]

A dedicated carrier aircraft without folding wings? 

Rafale M does without folding wings.

 The exception proofs the rule 

[coanda]

The low aft perspective view shows that in fact the control surface edge goes through the bump...
...I still don't think the leading edge has any aft sweep.

Imho the black line is a cable leading to strain gauges, not uncommon on prototypes. However, without further Information/pics it's hard to tell what's the planform of the wings and what the mysterious bulges are for.

I also doubt that this has folding wings.

A dedicated carrier aircraft without folding wings? 

1. Ok, fair enough.

2. I said this aircraft, as in this airframe, is unlikely to have wing fold.

[SpudmanWP]

I'd say that it has to fold given that a 60+ foot wingspan will make moving it around below decks a massive pain.

How big are the hanger doors?

[PaulMM (Overscan)]

I'd say that it has to fold given that a 60+ foot wingspan will make moving it around below decks a massive pain.

How big are the hanger doors?

I think the point was this *prototype* might not have folding wings, even if the real thing does.

[Airplane]

I think the entire wing will fold like an old F9F Panther that folded where the wing met the intakes.

[sferrin]

I think the entire wing will fold like an old F9F Panther that folded where the wing met the intakes.

That would make for a pretty tall aircraft I'd think.

[Flyaway]

Here's Why General Atomics Teamed Up With Boeing For The MQ-25 Tanker Drone Tender

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18437/heres-why-general-atomics-teamed-up-with-boeing-for-the-mq-25-tanker-drone-tender

[VTOLicious]

Here's Why General Atomics Teamed Up With Boeing For The MQ-25 Tanker Drone Tender
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18437/heres-why-general-atomics-teamed-up-with-boeing-for-the-mq-25-tanker-drone-tender

"...This follows the service dropping something of a bombshell in its latest budget request, stating that, at best, it will only buy four of the Stingrays over the next six years and that a possible larger buy of 68 will only come some time after that, if it happens at all..."

 

[VTOLicious]

The 15000 lb might be doable if the capacity of the Buddy Store + another fuel tank is considered:

Internal capacity "give": 1440 gal (5451 l) (corresponds to 3x 480 gal tanks )
External capacity "give": 1x Buddy Store 300 gal (1136 l) + 1x FuelTank 480 gal (1817 l) = 780 gal (2953 l)

Total fuel "give": 2220gal (8404 l), JP5 @ 0.81 kg/l = 6807kg (15007 lb)

EDIT: In case of the X-47B, 15000lb is exactly half of its useful load:

Empty weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 44,567 lb (20,215 kg)

Useful Load: 30567 lb (13865 kg)

"...On Feb. 12, 2018, General Atomics revealed the partnership with Boeing in a press release that also named a half dozen other companies that it would be working with on its MQ-25 bid. Pratt & Whitney will supply its PW815 high bypass turbofan engine,..."

Now that we know what kind of engine is being used for the MQ-25, it becomes evident that it will have an MTOM that's very similar to the X-47B.

X-47B, 1x Pratt & Whitney F100-220U:    16000 lbf (71,17 kN)
MQ-25, 1x Pratt & Whitney PW815GA:     15680 lbf (69,75 kN)

[sferrin]

Here's Why General Atomics Teamed Up With Boeing For The MQ-25 Tanker Drone Tender
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18437/heres-why-general-atomics-teamed-up-with-boeing-for-the-mq-25-tanker-drone-tender

"...This follows the service dropping something of a bombshell in its latest budget request, stating that, at best, it will only buy four of the Stingrays over the next six years and that a possible larger buy of 68 will only come some time after that, if it happens at all..."

 

Meanwhile the X-47Bs collect dust, if they haven't been scrapped.

[flateric]

What makes you think that they could be scrapped?
Navy was going to donate them to museums but then changed mind and kept for future testing.
One of them was last seen in August, 17 with external fuel tanks in CBARS related tests.

[sferrin]

What makes you think that they could be scrapped?
Navy was going to donate them to museums but then changed mind and kept for future testing.
One of them was last seen in August, 17 with external fuel tanks in CBARS related tests.

It would be par for the course.

[DrRansom]

"...This follows the service dropping something of a bombshell in its latest budget request, stating that, at best, it will only buy four of the Stingrays over the next six years and that a possible larger buy of 68 will only come some time after that, if it happens at all..."

 

Why even have the program if you're not going to buy anything?

[bring_it_on]

Why even have the program if you're not going to buy anything?

Plans are to buy 4 aircraft in the FYDP to support development and operational testing (most probably). Additional buy would be outside of the FYDP and therefore not included in a chart.

[jsport]

"...This follows the service dropping something of a bombshell in its latest budget request, stating that, at best, it will only buy four of the Stingrays over the next six years and that a possible larger buy of 68 will only come some time after that, if it happens at all..."

 

Why even have the program if you're not going to buy anything?

Glade research continues as even though basic avionics and sensors are common and largely mature. Such an important capability as long range, high performance potentially UCRAS craft takes time. It is too  bad a tactical vtol Close Air Support UCRAS program doesn't have the same support.  Of course the candidate VTOLs out there are not worth investing in.