X-45A UACV Demonstrator Drops Inert Bomb

[seruriermarshal]

Edwards AFB - Apr 13, 2004
The Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program conducted a weapons separation test of an inert bomb from a X-45A technology demonstrator, marking the first time that an unmanned aircraft has released a weapon from an internal bay, and the first time that a weapon has been released from a high-speed, high-performance, unmanned aircraft with a stealthy shape.
On March 20, during its fourth flight in 10 days, X-45A air vehicle 1 took off from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The release went flawlessly and the separation was clean, smooth, and stable. The jettison, at 0.67 Mach and 35,000 feet, was conducted over the Edwards Precision Impact Range Area.

The weapon release used an inert (non-explosive), unguided 250-pound Small Smart Bomb. In the coming weeks, an X-45A will release a guided, inert Small Smart Bomb in a joint demonstration at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif. That release will mark the first time that a GPS-guided weapon has been released from an unmanned system.

The weapons separation test demonstrates the potential of the J-UCAS to complement manned aircraft in some of the most dangerous lethal missions expected in the 21st century, such as suppression of enemy air defenses and precision strike.

揟his demonstration is part of the J-UCAS program抯 look at the challenges of designing a system to penetrate the heaviest defenses, deliver weapons, and keep the human-in-the-loop where required for rules of engagement,?explained DARPA抯 X-45 program manager, CAPT Ralph Alderson, USN.

The J-UCAS program is a joint DARPA/Air Force/Navy effort to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility, and operational value of a networked system of high performance, weaponized unmanned air vehicles to effectively and affordably prosecute 21st century combat missions.

The Boeing X-45A vehicles are tools for demonstrating the initial technical feasibility of the J-UCAS concept. Boeing and Northrop Grumman are now developing the next generation of vehicles (the X-45C and X-47B, respectively) to demonstrate the military utility and operational value of the JUCAS concept.

[Fox2]

The weapon release used an inert (non-explosive), unguided 250-pound Small Smart Bomb. In the coming weeks, an X-45A will release a guided, inert Small Smart Bomb in a joint demonstration at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif.

How can it be a "smart" bomb if it is unguided?

Damned media and their buzzwords. :lol:

[Uninen]

I think it gets its "smartness" from the fact that it has "advanced" fuze and warhead....

Which both behave different vs soft / hard targets..........

[Uninen]

I think it gets its "smartness" from the fact that it has "advanced" fuze and warhead....

Which both behave different vs soft / hard targets..........

*note*

and this particular dropping was just a test of the "bombs airframe", the actual weapon will be GPS guided, as you can for yourself, from the text.......

[seruriermarshal]

I think it gets its "smartness" from the fact that it has "advanced" fuze and warhead....

Which both behave different vs soft / hard targets..........

*note*

and this particular dropping was just a test of the "bombs airframe", the actual weapon will be GPS guided, as you can for yourself, from the text.......

Your meaning is it will use JDAM ? I think , it will use SBD .

[Fox2]

and this particular dropping was just a test of the "bombs airframe", the actual weapon will be GPS guided, as you can for yourself, from the text.......

The text said that the next test will be using a guided GPS-guided munition, it didn't mention anything about the real weapon being GPS-guided.

My point is the oxymoron of the "unguided smart bomb."

Usually the term "smart bomb" is used in the media to describe precision munitions, like LGBs or JDAMs. But they said that this is unguided, hence my statement.

[Uninen]

HuH?

JDAM = Joint direct attack munition

SBD = ???

I Really dont get your meaning......

Any how as you can see this weapon is very small for a bomb... only 114kg or 250lb class.

and Fox2,

ONCE IN SERVICE THIS WEAPON WILL BE GPS-GUIDED AND ACTUAL "SMART WEAPON" AKA "PGM".

:bash:

[Fox2]

and Fox2,

ONCE IN SERVICE THIS WEAPON WILL BE GPS-GUIDED AND ACTUAL "SMART WEAPON" AKA "PGM".

:bash:

My point is; it is not a "smart weapon" now, is it? :P Now, take a deep breath, drink some coffee, and calm down.

[seruriermarshal]

HuH?

JDAM = Joint direct attack munition

SBD = ???

I Really dont get your meaning......

Any how as you can see this weapon is very small for a bomb... only 114kg or 250lb class.

and Fox2,

ONCE IN SERVICE THIS WEAPON WILL BE GPS-GUIDED AND ACTUAL "SMART WEAPON" AKA "PGM".

:bash:

So sorry , Write wrong , It's SDB ......

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/missiles/sdb/images/dvd-433-03.jpg

[Ghostwolf]

So sorry , Write wrong , It's SDB ......

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/missiles/sdb/images/dvd-433-03.jpg

That's the Small Diameter Bomb with the Diamond Back folding wing
attachment, for extended glide range up to 65 km.

The SDB uses differential GPS/INS as main guidance and has CEP of
5-8 m, it is mainly used for destroying stationary hard target, but there is
also a second variant fitted with a terminal seeker (DAMASK seeker I
think...) for taking out mobile vehicle targets

The design principle behind the SDB/SSB is that with more accurate GPS
guidance, a target can be destroyed with lesser collateral damage, and
hence there is no need for the use of larger and heavier bombs, and also
increases kills per sortie for fighter/bomber aircrafts.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/images/ssbrex-1.gif

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/images/ssbrex-2.gif

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/images/ssbrex-3.gif

[Tane Angle]

See, we're trying to avoid killing civilians.

[Fox2]

See, we're trying to avoid killing civilians. Oh my Lord, I can't believe you used logic.

How dare you insinuate the US is not the Great Satan, infidel! ;)

[seruriermarshal]

So sorry , Write wrong , It's SDB ......

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/missiles/sdb/images/dvd-433-03.jpg

That's the Small Diameter Bomb with the Diamond Back folding wing
attachment for extended glide range up to 65 km.

The SDB uses differential GPS/INS as main guidance and has CEP of
5-8 m, it is mainly used for destroying stationary hard target, but there is
also a second variant fitted with a terminal seeker (DAMASK seeker I
think...) for taking out mobile vehicle targets

The design principle behind the SDB/SSB is that with more accurate GPS
guidance, a target can be destroyed with lesser collateral damage, and
hence there is no need for the use of larger and heavier bombs, and also
increases kills per sortie for fighter/bomber aircrafts.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/images/ssbrex-1.gif

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/images/ssbrex-2.gif

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/images/ssbrex-3.gif

I hear , F-22 , F-35 and UCAV ...... will use SDB .

[seruriermarshal]

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/jdam-misc8a.jpg

This is JDAM , But to UCAV , perhaps it too bigger .

[Midav]

Yeah, would be too big.

Say, that an AIM-9X next to the (2000 lbs) JDAM?

[ANGRY KIWI]

Edwards AFB - Apr 13, 2004
The Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program conducted a weapons separation test of an inert bomb from a X-45A technology demonstrator, marking the first time that an unmanned aircraft has released a weapon from an internal bay, and the first time that a weapon has been released from a high-speed, high-performance, unmanned aircraft with a stealthy shape.
On March 20, during its fourth flight in 10 days, X-45A air vehicle 1 took off from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The release went flawlessly and the separation was clean, smooth, and stable. The jettison, at 0.67 Mach and 35,000 feet, was conducted over the Edwards Precision Impact Range Area.



i bet they just dressed it as a ninja

[seruriermarshal]

I search more messages about this event :


Robot Plane Drops Bomb in Successful California Test, Boeing Says
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A robotic plane deliberately dropped a bomb near a truck at Edwards Air Force Base on Sunday, marking another step forward for technology the U.S. military hopes will one day replace human pilots on dangerous combat missions.

Under human supervision but without human piloting, a prototype of the Boeing Co.'s X-45 took off from the desert base, opened its bomb bay doors, dropped a 250-pound Small Smart Bomb and then landed.

The inert bomb struck within inches of the truck it was supposed to hit, Boeing said, adding that had the bomb contained explosives, the target would have been destroyed.

"It's absolutely a huge step forward for us. It shows the capability of an unmanned airplane to carry weapons," said Rob Horton, Boeing's chief operator for the mission. "From the video, you see the weapon going down and a huge cloud of dust and the truck shaking around."

The X-45A was preprogrammed with the target coordinates and used the satellite-based Global Positioning System to adjust its course.

Horton, who was sitting 80 miles from the target, authorized the drone to drop the bomb, which was released from 35,000 feet as the plane flew at 442 mph.

The military sees such aircraft taking part in its most dangerous missions, such as bombing enemy radar and surface-to-air missile batteries, in order to clear the path for human pilots.

The Y-shaped, tailless plane has a 34-foot wingspan and weighs 8,000 pounds empty. It is the first drone designed specifically to carry weapons into combat.

Other robotic planes, including the Predator spy drone currently being used in Afghanistan, have been modified to carry weapons.

Boeing hopes to build hundreds of the X-45 planes, which would cost $10 million to $15 million each.

[Ghostwolf]

i bet they just dressed it as a ninja

Uh.... not quite, but it comes in two colors, deep space blue
and flaming red. :lol:

http://gallery.colofinder.net/albums/aircraft-x45a/PRPW_020711B_06D.jpg

[seruriermarshal]

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2004/photorelease/q2/EC04-0100-01.jpg

:roll:

[seruriermarshal]

Boeing Unmanned Combat Aircraft Makes Aviation History

ST. LOUIS, April 18, 2004 – Target confirmation, arm and release consent. With those three commands from its human operator, a Boeing [NYSE: BA] X-45A unmanned combat aircraft made aviation history by releasing an inert (non-explosive) Global Positioning System-guided Small Smart Bomb and hitting a ground target today at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Range, China Lake, Calif.

“For the first time, an unmanned combat system has demonstrated that it can successfully deliver precision weapons on target,” said Boeing Integrated Defense Systems President and CEO Jim Albaugh. “Unmanned systems like the X-45 are well suited for high-risk missions like the suppression of enemy air defense and precision strike. Once fully developed, these systems will provide commanders with effective and affordable solutions that compliment and support warfighters on the ground, in the air, or at sea.”

During the test an operator authorized release, and when the aircraft determined it was within range the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45A technology demonstrator dropped the guided 250-pound weapon from its internal weapons bay at 35,000 ft. and 0.67 Mach (approximately 442 mph). The aircraft autonomously performed all maneuvers, bay door operations, and weapon-away release sequences under human operator supervision.

The next major milestone for the X-45 J-UCAS program will be the demonstration of multiple-vehicle coordinated flight. That event will take place following a series of single-vehicle checkout operations and coordinated flights between an X-45A and a manned T-33.

The X-45C, a much larger version of the A model, is being built by Boeing IDS in St. Louis, with its first flight scheduled for mid-2006. The J-UCAS X-45 program is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/U.S. Air Force/U.S. Navy/Boeing effort to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility and operational value of an unmanned air combat system for both the Air Force and the Navy.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.