UNMANNED JETS TESTED FOR ATTACKS TARGETS HIT IN MOCK MISSIONS.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - In a step toward developing robotic fighter jets, two unmanned experimental planes conducted two simulated attacks on ground targets, Boeing said Monday.

The two Boeing Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems, or J-UCAS, X-45A unmanned aircraft made the test mission Feb. 4 from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

``With nearly three years of X-45A test experience completed, our next challenge was to show that our unmanned systems can handle the pop-up threats that are common in warfare,'' said Darryl Davis, Boeing J-UCAS X-45 vice president and program manager. ``We've begun demonstrating that with this mission.''

In the test, the jets were flying at about 260 mph about 25 miles apart when their operators gave them targets on the ground.

The jets' computers decided which craft was in the best location and had the best weapons and fuel to attack each target, then changed course to carry out the attack. The pilot-operator allowed them to continue the attack.

The test demonstrated how program officials envision future unmanned combat aircraft to operate. The aircraft computers and software perform much of the work in flying themselves, but key decisions, such as whether to proceed with an attack, are left to a human operator on the ground.

The program is a joint effort by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Air Force and the Navy to create unmanned aircraft that can take on tasks that are very dangerous, such as attacking enemy radar and missile sites, or very dull, such as hours-long surveillance.

The military wants stealthy, unmanned aircraft that can be launched either from land or from an aircraft carrier and that can fly 1,500 miles carrying 4,500 pounds of weapons and electronic gear.

In October, the Pentagon announced that Boeing had won a $766.6 million contract to continue the development and construction of three larger X-45C unmanned combat aircraft.

The X-45C is expected to be 39 feet long - compared with 27 feet for the X-45A - and cruise at 560 mph at an altitude of 40,000 feet, carry a 4,500- pound weapons payload and fly a combat radius of more than 1,200 miles.

Northrop Grumman is working under similar contract arrangements to build three X-47B unmanned aircraft for the program.

In 2007, Defense Department officials will begin an assessment of the aircraft. That testing, which could run from 2007 through 2010, will provide information about capabilities to be pursued in follow-on developments.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com