Boeing and the US Navy have completed a series of tests to assess the characteristics of handling decks from Unmanned Stingray MQ-25 air vehicles on the aircraft carrier.
The work took place on the nimitz USS class aircraft carrier, George H W Bush, said Boeing. This involves the company's T1 demonstrators, which previously participated in flight testing.
MQ-25, designed to serve in the mission of refueling air-to-air, perform various movements on the flight deck and in the operator hangar. During the project, the Director of the USN flight deck - known as 'yellow shirt' - using standard hand signals to direct MQ-25, which is controlled by the deck handling officer using the remote control system.
Boeing said the control was easy to use and designed for young sailors who were familiar with video game control.
DHOS has been practicing in the Boeing Deck Handling Simulation Lab on St. Louis, Missouri.
Demonstrations are designed to ensure MQ-25 can integrate into a challenging environment from the aircraft flight deck, both in the day and night. MQ-25 is taxed, connected to a catapult, cleaning the landing area, and practicing parking.
"The Navy has a strict and well-established process to move the aircraft on the aircraft carrier," said Jim Young, Chief Engineer MQ-25 program.
"Our goal is to ensure the MQ-25 matches the process without changing it. From the aircraft design to the system design moves it, our team has worked hard to make the MQ-25 operator match all means."
During the previous flight test campaign, the T1 aircraft filled fuel force type fuel such as Boeing F / A-18E / F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-35C, and Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye.
"The Navy gave us two major performance parameters for air refueling and integration to Deck Carrier," added Dave Bujold, MQ-25 Director of the Program in Boeing. "We have shown that MQ-25 can meet both requirements, and we have done it in early than traditional acquisition programs."
As a fuel filling asset, MQ-25 will offer several benefits for USN. First, it will extend the carrier carrier range, which allows the ship to operate further from the enemy. It will be very relevant in conflict against China, given the anti-access / beijing area rejection strategy, which will use a long-term ranging bomber and missile to protect US forces in Bay.
MQ-25 will also free Super Hornets which will be assigned to the air-to-air refueling mission with special friends.
USN has said he wanted UAV to achieve initial operational capabilities in 2024. He planned to buy as many as 76 aircraft examples as part of the recording program.
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