Nortrhop-Grumman X-47B (UCAS-D) to Taxi Early Next Month

Northrop Grumman plans to perform the first high-speed taxi of its X-47B unmanned combat air system (UCAS-D) demonstrator by the first week of December as a prelude to first flight by year-end at Edwards AFB, Calif.

The taxi test will take the stealthy, single-engine UCAS to 120 kt., according to company officials.

Northrop Grumman and U.S. Navy officials passed the tailless, flying wing demonstrator for taxi tests at a flight readiness review early this month and are set to build up X-47B ground speeds over a series of trials that were due to begin at Edwards Nov. 19. These evaluations mark the culmination of almost two years of preparations since the rollout of the first air vehicle, AV-1, in December 2008.

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