Navy Drone Lands On Aircraft Carrier

Luigi59

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Unmanned drone makes first landing on US Navy aircraft carrier

The experimental X-47B drone has successfully landed on a US Navy aircraft carrier for the first time since its May launch. This means the US can now launch drones overseas without needing to use bases in other countries.

The unmanned X-47B aircraft, which is a prototype drone the size of a fighter jet developed by the American defense technology company Northrop Grumman, took off from a naval air station in Maryland on Wednesday. The drone then landed on the USS George H.W. Bush off the coast of Virginia.

The drone successfully performed a maneuver known as “arrested landing,” which involved catching a wire on board the ship with a deployed tail hook, bringing the aircraft to a quick stop.

The task is considered to be one of the most challenging for a human pilot, due to constant movement of the ship and the turbulent air around it. The procedure was performed exclusively by the drone’s built-in computer program.
 
Currently, combat drones are controlled remotely by a human pilot. But the X-47B is designed to carry out a combat mission controlled almost entirely by a computer. A human pilot would design its flight path and send it on its way; a computer program would guide it from a ship to the target and back.

Looks like Drone operators are going to start getting a little nervous.
 
Looks like Drone operators are going to start getting a little nervous.

I would expect that an operator could override and take control during an actual mission if necessary. I would further expect they'll leave the take of and landing to the onboard software, etc. and there will always be someone there to monitor and take over if necessary. Nevertheless, I would think drone jockeys should be worried.
 
Looks like Drone operators are going to start getting a little nervous.

Reminds of the movie "Stealth."

I think there are right type of missions for drones, but not all.

I can see it now, trillions spent to replace human pilots . . .
 
Reminds of the movie "Stealth."

I think there are right type of missions for drones, but not all.

I can see it now, trillions spent to replace human pilots . . .

So long as you're putting humans in the back, you'll have to put them in the front.
 
So long as you're putting humans in the back, you'll have to put them in the front.

I know of a 4-star general at the Pentagon who didn't share that sentiment, but did say that's how it would be for awhile.
 
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