X-47A PEGASUS ACES LOW-SPEED TAXI TEST.

Byline: Daily News

Northrop Grumman has taken another step toward flying its X-47A Pegasus experimental unmanned aircraft with the completion of a second taxi test at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake.

Northrop Grumman designed and built the Pegasus with its own funds to demonstrate aerodynamic qualities suitable for autonomous flight operations from an aircraft carrier.

Constructed mostly with composite materials, Pegasus measures 27.9 feet long with a nearly equal wingspan of 27.8 feet.

The low-speed taxi test conducted Sept. 6 was to demonstrate more extensively integrated navigation and control, the company said.

Steering performance also was further demonstrated as the vehicle turned onto a runway and moved down it in a zig-zag pattern.

The first taxi test in July exercised the initial capabilities of the X-47A's command and control, steering, brakes and navigation. Results from both tests will be analyzed as part of the preparation for first flight.

The results of the Pegasus flight demonstration program will be used in Northrop Grumman's work for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Navy.

The goal is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of building an affordable unmanned aircraft that can do surveillance and attack enemy anti- aircraft missile or gun emplacements.