Boeing X-45C Phantom Ray, X-46 UCAS/UCAS-D

[blackstar]

Must have been some delays. I saw it on April 20 (alas, we were not allowed to take photos) and they were talking about a flight on April 22 or 23 (they were going to close roads to prevent observation). I sorta doubted that they were going to fly it over Easter weekend.

 

[quellish]

No video or even pics? Come on Boeing PR. :'(

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=13&cat=25

Images and videos are exactly where they should be.

 

[blackstar]

Thanks for those. We were allowed to stand as close as the hangar door and look in, so we couldn't see anything other than the front of the plane.

 

[Machdiamond]

The images have been posted only a few minutes ago.
Nice shot with the F-35 in the background.

 

[sferrin]

No video or even pics? Come on Boeing PR. :'(

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=13&cat=25

Images and videos are exactly where they should be.

Not here when I looked

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43

 

[quellish]

Not here when I looked

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43

Left side of that page, "Image Gallery", then "Defense, Space, and Security", then "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles".

 

[sferrin]

Not here when I looked

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43

Left side of that page, "Image Gallery", then "Defense, Space, and Security", then "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles".

First time around I meant. Usually if there are photos or videos associated with the news release they have an apporpriate icon next to the release on the list. This one didn't (and still doesn't) have such an icon. (I did see the pics though, thanks. Wish they'd let the public have access to the high rez ones as well.)

 

[aim9xray]

Perhaps Mr. Pace ... ?

 

[flateric]

all photos (c) Boeing

 

[sferrin]

Decisions, decisions. Probably too much to hope that they both go into production. (X-45C and X-47B)

 

[bobbymike]

Following defense technology for 30 + years (amateur enthusiast) I have seen quite a few "introductory" pictures of what is supposed to represent "the future of warfare."

I can say that these pictures really represent that future IMHO.

 

[fightingirish]

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q-b8IcvC-0

Boeing's Phantom Ray unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator completed its first flight on April 27 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The 17-minute flight followed high-speed taxi tests in March to validate ground guidance, navigation and control and verify mission planning, pilot interface and operational procedures. The Phantom Ray flew to 7,500ft and reached 178kt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q-b8IcvC-0

 

[Steve Pace]

I found these from Boeing. -SP

 

[fightingirish]

It seems so, that the Phantom Ray UAV is going into storage now, since it has successfully completed its test flights.
But Boeing will keep it in flyable condition with the hopes of dusting it off to contribute to the optionally-manned portion of the Air Force’s long range bomber project.
Source: http://defensetech.org/2011/09/20/boeings-sixth-gen-fighter/

 

[Reaper]

Does anybody have a consistent 3 side view of the X-45C or Phantom Ray?

 

[flateric]

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2230.msg18949.html#msg18949

 

[Reaper]

Thanks, but there is the front view missing!

 

[flateric]

...

 

[Triton]

Uploaded on May 15, 2010

Boeing's Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS) is an in-house "one off" technology demonstrator that will serve as a flying test bed for multiple, new, advanced technologies including:

-- intel / surveil / recon
-- locate / neutralize enemy air defenses
-- hunter / killer missions
-- electronic warfare
-- autonomous aerial refueling

Boeing in-house project:
-- designed and developed by Boeing's Phantom Works division
-- uses technologies Boeing pioneered in prototype for Joint-Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS)
-- funded and built by Boeing Defense, Space & Security in St. Louis
-- no tax dollars used

http://youtu.be/CEqBvvvSgK0

 

[fightingirish]

The X-45N is an autonomous combat air vehicle for the U.S. Navy. The X-45N flies long-endurance, high-risk operational missions and delivers precision weapons on target. The X-45N is highly adaptable to changing battle conditions and provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance gathering.

Source: http://www.boeingimages.com/archive/X-45N%20Wind%20Tunnel%20Model-2F3XC5HRAK6.html

 

[Reaper]

is the X-45C program still ongoing or was it cancelled?

 

[flateric]

Second.

 

[Triton]

Model of Boeing X-45 with U.S. Air Force markings found on eBay.

Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boeing-UCAV-Desk-Top-Display-Model-Drone-/251691555261?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a99fc59bd

 

[flateric]

...

 

[flateric]

X-45N ad from July 9, 2007 AWST

 

[quellish]

An oldie but goodie. Here's a brief from 2002:

http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/industry/presentations/uav02freiberg.pdf

Moonbat

Original link has been lost to the sands of time

 

[TomcatViP]

That document shows perfectly an often forgotten aspect of the predominance of UCAV among the forces: Air lift power and large volume, heavy load capacity with short field landing aircraft.

If the Armies can make it valid with C-130 type of aircraft that are lighter with less range, an air force must have an heavy lifter able to land on short and dispersed runways where UCAV will have to operate.

In that sense, FCAS (central European one) is missing an essential component that would in effect directly limits its performance.

Deploying and Sustaining a fleet of an advanced UCAV with C-17 is one thing. Relying on more modest solution like C-130 sized aircraft or even a disfunctionnal one like the A400 would be a risky wager.

 

[GTX]

I don't see how the choice of airlifted makes any difference here for UCAVs. One could argue logistics is just as relevant to any military operation/capability with UCAVs being no different/special.

 

[quellish]

Another aspect is that you keep ‘‘em in the box until you need them. You don’t need to constantly fly them for training or readiness , you don’t have to maintain them in the same ways, etc. That drastically reduces the life cycle costs.

This would also apply (hopefully) to any loyal wingman type of UAV.

 

[TomcatViP]

I don't see how the choice of airlifted makes any difference here for UCAVs. One could argue logistics is just as relevant to any military operation/capability with UCAVs being no different/special.

The fact that many of them will be attritable tends to even aggravate the drain in logistics.
Let's be clear, there will also never be enough tanker to allow autonomous long range deployment of the many UCAV an Airforce need.

Loyal wingmans will seat closer to the Theatre of operation until being picked up by a 6th Gen manned aircraft and rejoin their attributed flight. To limit the vulnerability of affixed nodes in the operational scheme, those rendez-vous point will be dynamically alloted with a corresponding change in basing.

Airlifting power will then be of the outmost significance in the reality of the concept. This is probably the strongest effector for sustained operations. UCAV will be brought in a dispersed airfield crated, operated with a minimal maintenance force and put back in crates before being flown back for maintenance/regeneration or allocated to a remote theater of operation.

That's probably the only sustainable way of doing things.
CONUS basing and initial point for deployment is not possible without, either a drastic increase in refueling aircraft, or a delayed tempo (deployment effort will be considerably longer in time).
At the scale of Europe, a Loyal wingman will probably be restricted to the continent. Deploying them in number putting a too heavy burden on the airlift capabilities available.

 

[red admiral]

Another aspect is that you keep ‘‘em in the box until you need them. You don’t need to constantly fly them for training or readiness , you don’t have to maintain them in the same ways, etc. That drastically reduces the life cycle costs.

This would also apply (hopefully) to any loyal wingman type of UAV.

Butbthese things still need people to operate. How do you surge the people when you get them all out of the box?

 

[TomcatViP]

Either, just like you do with training dedicated rounds or via circular temporary activation of each UCAV.
But that where the main point of the discussion stands: there isn't the manpower or the will to set something as massive in human resources. Most UCAV will be attritable (less ressources needed for maintenance) and would not have reliable enough systems to crisscross the globe to join their theater of operation.

 

[flateric]

'my secret garden'

 

[quellish]

'my secret garden'

Boeing antenna test facility near St Louis, correct?

 

[flateric]

Exactly