The Northrop Grumman X-47B is a demonstration unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed for aircraft carrier-based operations. Developed by the American defense technology company Northrop Grumman, the X-47 project began as part of DARPA's J-UCAS program, and subsequently became part of the United States Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. The X-47B is a tailless jet-powered blended-wing-body aircraft capable of semi-autonomous operation and aerial refueling.
U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Audley Campbell directs a Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator aircraft as it taxis on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George 130514-N-FU443-679
U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Joshua Rabarabrokate salutes a Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) 130514-N-TB177-541
U.S. Sailors load an X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrator aircraft onto an aircraft elevator aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Atlantic Ocean May 14, 2013 130514-N-CZ979-023
U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Marvin Etienne watches as a Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator aircraft is loaded onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George 130506-N-FU443-277
Dave Lorenz, a Northrop Grumman deck operator, drives an X-47B unmanned combat air system using an arm-mounted controller on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in Norfolk, Va 130510-N-FU443-303
U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Cesar D. Rivera signals to an elevator operator as a Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator aircraft is lifted to the flight deck of 130514-N-FE409-033
X-47B UCAS demonstrator on USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)
U.S. Sailors tow a Navy X-47B unmanned combat air system demonstrator aircraft on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Norfolk, Va., May 10, 2013 130510-N-FU443-068
U.S. Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) remove the chocks from a Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator aircraft May 14, 2013, in the Atlantic Ocean 130514-N-TB177-462