NORTHROP TO BUILD NEW CRAFT UNMANNED PLANE DESTINED FOR NAVY.

Byline: JIM SKEEN

Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $635.8 million contract by the Navy to develop technologies for a future unmanned strike fighter -- an effort that will include the construction of two X-planes in Palmdale.

The Navy awarded the contract under the Unmanned Combat Air System program, an effort to develop an aircraft carrier-based unmanned combat jet. Northrop Grumman won the contract in a competition with Boeing Co.

For the effort, Northrop Grumman is building two X-47B aircraft at its facilities at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. The first aircraft is expected to fly in 2009 and the second shortly thereafter, according to the company.

Initial flight testing of the aircraft will be conducted at Edwards Air Force Base before moving to the Navy's flight test center at Patuxent River, Md.

One of the goals of the program will be to demonstrate takeoffs and landings of an unmanned aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Such tests are planned for 2011.

If successful, the Navy could continue to advance with plans to begin introducing unmanned fighters into the force in 2020.

The Navy is looking to develop a stealthy, tailless aircraft that would be capable of handling dangerous missions, such as taking out air defense systems, or "dull" missions, such as surveillance missions that last for hours.

The aircraft will be able to fly unpiloted to designated targets or areas to patrol, but humans will still make the key decisions, such as whether to drop a bomb or fire a missile.

james.skeen(at)dailynews

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