Sailors hoisted the first unmanned aircraft capable of carrier operations aboard the USS Harry Truman on Monday at at Norfolk naval base, Va. It marked the first time the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System, built by Northrop Grumman, has boarded a ship.
Navy officials transported the X-47B demonstrator from it's home at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., to the Truman to prepare it for the tests the Navy has planned for one of only two demonstrators build thus far. Navy and Northrop engineers will test it in port and underway on the Atlantic Ocean.
The Navy plans to fly the X-47B from the carrier this winter follow weeks of on board tests. The Truman received software upgrades to operate the X-47B, which will allow sailors and Northrop contractors to fly the UCAS with hand-held controllers.
Below is a video of the Navy hoisting the X-47B aboard the Truman. Mobile readers can click here.
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