J-UCAS Program
In late 2003, DARPA formed the J-UCAS office, merging the Air Force X-45A UCAV and the Navy X-47A UCAV-N unmanned combat air vehicle programs.
In early 2006 the J-UCAS program was cancelled. The Navy's X-47 program office was moved to the Patuxent Naval Air Station, while the Army's X-45 program was terminated. Boeing is considering modifying it's X-45, so it can compete with the X-47 in the Navy's UAV program.
Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems
"We're going to demonstrate a set of capabilities so the services can understand this thing, what it can do and what it can't do", said Michael Francis, director of J-UCAS.
"The operating system is the part that's hardest to deal with", he told National Defense. Unlike traditional aircraft programs, J-UCAS emphasizes the software and the network, rather than the vehicles. "The platforms are just nodes in a network", Francis said.
Objectives
The J-UCAS program combines the efforts that were previously conducted under the DARPA/Air Force UCAS program and the DARPA/Navy UCAV-N program. Each program had its specific targets and specifications.
For the J-UCAS program, DARPA combined several important objectives, the J-UCAS demonstrators must, as a minimum, have an operational radius of 1,300 miles, a two hour loiter capability at a 1,000 mile range and carry at least 4,500 pounds of weapons and equipment.
Furthermore, both vehicles will use the same ground control equipment. Making it possible that a Boeing ground station will control a Northrop Grumman aircraft.
If the two aircraft are flying autonomously, unless you have a scorecard, you won't be able to tell which is which, according to Francis.
Development phases
Spiral 0
Existing individual UCAS designs (X-47A UCAV-N & X-45A)
More advanced demonstrators are now under development as part of the J-UCAS program: the X-45C and X-47B are the next step in the evolution of an affordable operational J-UCAS.
The larger air vehicles will more closely represent the envisioned operational systems, to include two full weapons bays and incorporation of LO technologies.
The Spiral 1, development phase under the J-UCAS program
Includes the design of the improved demonstrator air vehicles, X-45C and the X-47B.
The objective of Spiral 1 effort is to design, develop, integrate, and demonstrate the technologies, processes, and system attributes (TPSAs) pertaining to the J-UCAS Operational System.
Under Spiral 1, two air vehicles will begin flight test in 2006 and will commence catapult and arrested landing testing in the fall of 2006.
Operational Assessment Phase (Spiral 2) - FY07-09
This phase will develop and demonstrate greater operational utility, which will support go-ahead for development (Milestone B) of the J-UCAS Objective System (J-UOS) in 2009.
Common Systems and Technologies
A very important part of J-UCAS is a common technologies program - developing standards and common components for sensor, communications and computer systems.
The idea is that Navy and USAF UCAVs should work seamlessly together, with a common upgrade path, and that new UCAVs - perhaps a highly agile aircraft or a supersonic long-range vehicle - can be integrated into the same system.
Current Developments
Due to budget cuts and priority changes, the J-UCAS program has been cancelled. The X-47 program is now managed by the Navy only, and the X-45 program for the Army has been terminated. Boeing may still modify the X-45 so it can participate in the Navy's program, and compete with the X-47.
Navy's UCAS-D Program
After the termination of the J-UCAS program, the Navy established the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.
The purpose of this UCAS-D Program effort is to conduct a Carrier Demonstration (CV Demo) of a low-observable planform unmanned combat air system. The CV Demo effort will be structured to mature critical technologies and reduce the risk of carrier integration of a UCAS while providing the information necessary to support a potential follow-on acquisition milestone decision.
The Government anticipates the award of a CV Demo competitive contract no later than the second quarter of FY07. The expected period of performance of the CV Demo effort is from the second quarter of FY07 through the fourth quarter of FY11.
The scope of the UCAS-D effort includes the design, development and demonstration of a UCAS-D System (UCDS). The UCDS technology demonstration objectives shall include, but not limited to, the following:
- Carrier Control Area Operations
- Launch Performance
- Arrested Landing Performance Including Approach, Waveoff and Bolter
- Deck Operations
- Supportability
- Mission Control Segment (MCS) CV Integration
- UCAS interface to Primary Flight Control (PriFly), Landing Signal Officer (LSO), and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC)
For more information about the current developments of the X-45 and X-47 please visit their factsheets:
Recent developments (news)
Boeing to Develop, Fly 'Phantom Ray' Technology Demonstrator
Posted at: Sun May 10th, 2009
ST. LOUIS, May 08, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] plans to develop and demonstrate an unmanned flying test bed for advanced air system technologies. The internally funded program, called Phantom Ray, will use the prototype vehicle that Boeing originally developed for the Defense Advanced R...
Boeing Awarded International Aviation Trophy for X-45A
Posted at: Tue Nov 27th, 2007
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 27, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received the prestigious Johnston Memorial Trophy from the London-based Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators for the accomplishments of the X-45A Joint-Unmanned Combat Air Systems (...
US Navy opens UCAS-D contest
Posted at: Mon Feb 26th, 2007
Boeing and Northrop both submit systems developed under J-UCAS for service's combat air system competition
Boeing and Northrop Grumman are responding to a US Navy request for proposals (RFP) for the $1.9 billion unmanned combat air system car...
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