1. Presented by:
CAPT B. V. Duarte, USN
Program Manager, PMA268
8 April 2014
NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284
Distribution Statement A- Approved for public Release; distribution is unlimited.

2. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284
Distribution Statement A- Approved for public Release; distribution is unlimited.
Accomplishments:
 Demonstrated “Digital” Carrier Control Area (CCA) Operations
 Demonstrated Precision Navigation Capability
 Carrier Launches
 Arrested Landings including Approach, Wave-Off and Bolter
 Integrated Mission Control Segment (MCS) into Carrier
 Developed Unmanned Carrier Aircraft Interface with Carrier
 Autonomous Aerial Refueling Surrogate Testing
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Objectives:
• Reduce risk for unmanned air
system integration on aircraft
carrier
• Mature critical aircraft carrier
suitability technologies
• Provide risk reduction to
support potential Navy follow-
on acquisition program

3. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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Key Program Events
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4. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284
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5. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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Design Tailless, cranked-kite,
unmanned, autonomous
Structure Carrier Certified
Wingspan ~ 62 ft
Take-off gross weight (demo) ~ 44,000 lbs
Engine PW F100-PW-220U
Twin Internal Weapons Bays 4,500 lbs payload (design load)
Aerial refueling provisions USN / USAF style
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6. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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CVN Environment
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7. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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Carrier Air Traffic
Control Center
Landing Signal
Officer Station
Mission Operator Station

8. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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9. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
Distribution Statement A- Approved for public Release; distribution is unlimited.
X-47B CVN Demonstration
NAS Patuxent River
Primary Shore Site
NASA Wallops Island
Alternate/Divert Site
Transit National Airspace with
chase aircraft from Patuxent
River Restricted Airspace to
offshore warning area under
FAA Certificate of Authorization
(COA)
Transfer of aircraft command and control
from shore to shipboard mission
operator
Transit offshore to
CVN
Conduct ship-relative navigation,
holding, and approaches within
carrier control zone
Perform CVN flight operations
- Autonomous approach and landing
- LSO initiated “Waveoff” and “Cut”
- Flight in carrier landing pattern
- Shipboard arrested landings
- Flight deck taxi
- Shipboard hot refueling
- Catapult hookup and launch
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10. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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10 JULY 2013, Onboard
USS GEORGE HW BUSH
off the Atlantic Coast

11. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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11
Video
Click here to view videoClick here to view video

12. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284
Distribution Statement A- Approved for public Release; distribution is unlimited.
Demonstrated Technologies will inform Future Carrier Aviation Programs
Lessons Learned
CONOPS
- Autonomous departure / approach
- Contingency Planning (Bolter, Wave off, Divert, …)
- Autonomous out of wire requirements
- Air Vehicle hand off and positive control
Digitized CVN Messaging / Communications
- Created Airborne IP Network
- Landing Signal Officer display
- Wave off and “Cleared to Land” signals
- Digital message format
- Shipboard information distribution
- Safety interfaces and displays
Precision Landing Navigation
- Algorithms
- Modified hardware
- UAV navigation latency requirements
Deck Handling
- Demonstrated handheld device
- Developed Flight Deck CONOPS / Use Cases
- Alternatives – Wands, gesture recognition
…2010 2014…
Digital
ATC
PGPS
(F/A-18 Surrogate)
Deck Device
(Handheld)
CCA Ops
(Autonomous)
Autonomous
Aerial Refueling

13. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284
Distribution Statement A- Approved for public Release; distribution is unlimited.
13
• Conduct additional carrier based launch and
recovery operations (Summer 2014)
o Cooperative Manned & Unmanned Operations
o CVN Integration Testing
− Night CVN Operations
− Voice Relay
− Additional Envelope Expansion
o Continued CV Suitability Testing
− Jet Blast Deflector Acoustic Testing
− Precision Approach Flying Qualities

14. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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Successful testing with manned
UAV surrogates reduces risks,
builds confidence for future
autonomous aerial refueling
demonstrations
Autonomous formation flight and refueling demonstration
with Lear surrogate aircraft
• Technologies to be Flight Tested:
− X-47B Precision Relative GPS (PGPS) algorithms
− X-47B AAR vision system
− Electro-Optic Grid Reference System (EOGRS) updated
Drogue Positioning System (DPS) and updated Receiver
Positioning System (RPS)
− Blended navigation solution development using multiple
positioning technologies
• Additional Navy AAR Technology Work:
– Relative GPS/INS Innovations for Autonomous UAS
– Terminal Guidance for Autonomous Aerial Refueling
– Controllable Drogue Refueling
Omega Air K707 Tanker

15. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-284
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• X-47B program continues to refine the concept of operations (CONOPS)
to demonstrate the integration of unmanned carrier-based aircraft within
the current carrier environment and reduce technical risk.
• The team will focus on perfecting flight deck operations (e.g., wing fold
times and night deck handling) and collecting flight test data in off-
nominal operations (e.g., off-axis winds, more stressing and dynamic
landing conditions).
• Execution of test events will mature air traffic control and ground support
standard operating procedures to allow co-use of range airspace by
unmanned and manned aircraft.
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16. NAVAIR Public Release 2014-240
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Questions?