Warplanes: July 13, 2005

Archives

The Department of Defense now wants its first unmanned combat aircraft to able to refuel in the air. This aircraft, the X-45C, weighs 19 tons, has a 2.2 ton payload and is 39 feet long (with a 49 foot wingspan.) Officially, its called JUCAS (Joint Unmanned Combat Air System), because the navy and air force will both use it. The X-45C has a combat radius of 2,300 kilometers, or can go out 1,800 kilometers, hang around for two hours, and return. The X-45C can stay in the air for about six hours on internal fuel. Since it doesnt carry a pilot, aerial refueling can be done several times if theres a need to keep the aircraft up there, and there are no equipment problems. Electronic aids for aerial refueling have made the procedure increasingly automated. The X-45C will demonstrate just how far the automation has come. The engineers believe that robotic aerial refueling won't be a big problem.  The first X-45C is still under construction, and wont fly until 2007. Meanwhile, smaller versions, like the X-45A, are being used to test the new software needed to make UCAVs work in a combat environment. The X-45X is a joint U.S. Air Force/Navy project. 

X

ad

Help Keep StrategyPage Open

First came Facebook, then came Twitter, and finally, AI has arrived. They have all caused a decline in our business, but AI may be the deadliest innovation. We are currently in survival mode. Our writers and staff receive no payment in some months, and even when they do, it is below the minimum wage for their efforts. You can support us with your donations or subscriptions. Please help us keep our doors open.

Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on X.

Subscribe   Donate   Close