The Navys top admiral told a think-tank audience yesterday he wants more unmanned aircraft in the sea service, and he wants em in a hurry. In particular, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead said hed like a robotic attack aircraft that can land and take off from a carrier. As it happens, I saw a full-scale mock-up of just such a plane a few weeks ago.
The X-47B is expected to make its first flight by the end of the year and could be making autonomous carrier landings as soon as 2011....
Danger Room
