Early Northrop Grumman publicity UCAV concepts

[flateric]

These are first strike naval-based UCAV concepts NG publicised in press. A question remain how close these were to real in-house works, you can make your own conclusion comparing them to X-47A/B/C, but still they are looking cool.

Source: Air&Combat magazine

 

[Creative]

When I first saw Bird of Prey's cranked wings I thought it was a manned version of the UCAV in the first 2 pics

 

[Matej]

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[Matej]

The possible connection may come from the Grumman and their studies of the survivability enhancement (unmanned air launched) vehicle from 1993 - see the attached patent. The overall concept is close to the later UCAV. You can also find the connection with the gull wing, patented by Grumman in the same time (patent number 5 542 625). So the final shape, posted in the first post, seems to be much Grumman than Northrop.

 

[Matej]

These were being built before any of the unmanned air vehicles were being used in the field. This was the N/G prototype design for DARPA.

I really wish that this had been adopted if only because the design kicks ass.

We built one that was 1/3rd scale that was supposed to be dropped out of an airplane in order to shoot it "in flight" for a video. I don't know what ever happened with that.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dullspork/3882446669/

 

[Matej]

What is this? Ad is from August 1987.

 

[GeorgeA]

I think that's Tacit Rainbow.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

I just recently came into possession of some NG mementos, including this tiny model of one of their early UCAV designs