X-47B: The Bat Winged Unmanned Drone Bomber Of US Navy

The bat winged drone bomber named the X-47B is the latest addition to the unending list of air crafts owned by the American Navy. It made its first successful flight as it took off from a US aircraft carrier and stayed in the air for as long as 29 minute at a height of 5000 feet. The test flight was conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, California as stated by a defense contractor. This unmanned robotic bomber is seen to be a promising part of the new generation drones.

The X-47B which resembles to be a smaller version of B-2 stealth bomber is capable to evade radar and fly at much faster than the present fleet of propeller-driven Predators and Reapers. Captain Jaime Engdahl, a program manager for the warplane stated, "Today we got a glimpse towards the future as the Navy’s first-ever tailless, jet-powered unmanned aircraft took to the skies." This unmanned bomber was jointly operated by the Navy and Northrop Grumman team on the ground as it had no pilot on board to operate it.

This navy bomber is built by the Northrop Grumman team, a leader in global security under a 6 million contract that it was awarded with in 2007.

The X-47B flew a racetrack pattern over the dry lakebed with standard rate turns. Even though this robotic bomber completed its first test flight very successfully the Navy said that there is still time that X-47B will join the naval air fleet. This test flight at California is the beginning of the approximately 50 flight long test program at Edwards. The second aircraft will begin its testing shortly after the completion of the test flight of the first aircraft. These will then be transported to Patuxent River Naval Air Station from California to carry out the remaining carrier demonstration programme.

Rear Adm. Bill Shannon, Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons said, “We are breaking new ground by developing the first unmanned jet aircraft to take off and land aboard a flight deck. This demonstration program is intended to reduce risk for potential future unmanned systems operating in and around aircraft carriers." With the addition of this killer drone the America’s already big fleet of 11 big-deck aircraft carriers gets bigger and more dangerous. Its great range, superfast speed and its capability to evade radars will prove to be very useful for the American Navy to cover their vessels and help them sail farther.  You can get the glimpse of the first flight made by the X-47B in the following video:

Recent flight: #-Link-Snipped-#
Right now I am just wondering, if this is what the US Navy brags about in front of the complete world, what more must have they hidden in their kitty?