Search

More Demonstration, R&D Likely Needed Before Fielding UCLASS, Carter Says

More Demonstration, R&D Likely Needed Before Fielding UCLASS, Carter Says
An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator, the predecessor to the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike vehicle, completes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), July 10. Photo courtesy U.S. Navy.

Fans of the Navy’s experimental X-47B drone needn't despair at the program’s end after this fiscal year. Although the aircraft “reached the end of what it had anticipated to do,” the operational follow-on program known as Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) will likely entail more research, development and demonstration, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said May 6.“I think we are going to have to … do some more research and testing," but "not necessarily" with the X-47B airframe, Carter…

Subscriber-only content. Please log in below.

Not a subscriber or registered user yet?

Please contact us at clientservices@accessintel.com or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.



Congress Updates

CBO Estimates Loss of One-Half to Two-Thirds of U.S. Missile Interceptors Since June Last Year

A new Congressional Budget Office report estimates the cost of the Iran war through Aug. 1 as $38 billion and says that the U.S. has likely depleted between one-half and […]


Fischer Says Golden Dome Boosters Need To Increase Capitol Hill Support With Information, Warns Against Counting On Reconciliation

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – A Senate Armed Services panel chair today said boosters of the Golden Dome program still have work to do to increase support on Capitol Hill while […]


HII Executive Outlines Its Shipbuilding Acceleration Strategy

An HII [HII] shipbuilding executive last week told lawmakers how the company plans to improve and accelerate shipbuilding throughout via workforce improvements, adding new shipbuilding infrastructure and reinforcing distributed shipbuilding […]


House Sends Dec. 11 CR With Ship Construction Funds To Trump’s Desk For Final Signature

The House on Tuesday passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the government open through Dec. 11, sending the temporary funding measure that also includes funds to support ongoing shipbuilding […]