X-47B drones at Edwards AFB

Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy are doubling down on their efforts to get the X-47B robotic drone in shape to use an aircraft carrier for take-offs and landings: a second test aircraft now has made its first flight. The 29-minute low-altitude excursion took place November 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California, as part of the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. "With two aircraft now available, we can increase the amount of aircraft performance data we gather, which will allow us to meet our required aircraft capability demonstration goals in a timely manner," Carl Johnson, vice president and UCAS-D program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector, said in a statement this week.