I am a little perplexed by what appears to be the raging success of the amazing X-47B (mixed carrier ops/aerial refuelling etc etc) to read that the project has 'terminated' (or has it just disappeared into Area51.....?)
To see an apparent dead-end in the road after over 12 years of development is odd. Anyone got any news of what might be next?
US Unmanned aircraft - what now?
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Re: US Unmanned aircraft - what now?
The last I read about it, it wasn't terminated but funding had finished and then some additional funding was found
and then it had really done all it had set out to do as a test bed. I believe they were going to become museum pieces
but a decision was made to keep them in flying condition.
And secondly, I thought a tender was due out this year for a production model for entry into service
sometime next decade ?
Anyway, I think the whole think was fantastic and was a real jump ahead, not just the aircraft but
doing it all from a moving carrier as well.
and then it had really done all it had set out to do as a test bed. I believe they were going to become museum pieces
but a decision was made to keep them in flying condition.
And secondly, I thought a tender was due out this year for a production model for entry into service
sometime next decade ?
Anyway, I think the whole think was fantastic and was a real jump ahead, not just the aircraft but
doing it all from a moving carrier as well.
Re: US Unmanned aircraft - what now?
Agreed - stunning. Don't tell RyanAir..................... 
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Re: US Unmanned aircraft - what now?
Boac wrote:Agreed - stunning. Don't tell RyanAir.....................
Due to regulations, they will still have to have a pilot in the cockpit and
then a dog to stop the pilot touching anything