It's just one historic achievement in robotic warfare after another these days. The X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle's “point-click-kill” software is a success:
ST. LOUIS, April 18, 2004 — Target confirmation, arm and release consent. With those three commands from its human operator, a Boeing [NYSE: BA] X-45A unmanned combat aircraft made aviation history by releasing an inert (non-explosive) Global Positioning System-guided Small Smart Bomb and hitting a ground target today at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Range, China Lake, Calif.
“For the first time, an unmanned combat system has demonstrated that it can successfully deliver precision weapons on target,” said Boeing Integrated Defense Systems President and CEO Jim Albaugh. “Unmanned systems like the X-45 are well suited for high-risk missions like the suppression of enemy air defense and precision strike. Once fully developed, these systems will provide commanders with effective and affordable solutions that compliment and support warfighters on the ground, in the air, or at sea.”
During the test an operator authorized release, and when the aircraft determined it was within range the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45A technology demonstrator dropped the guided 250-pound weapon from its internal weapons bay at 35,000 ft. and 0.67 Mach (approximately 442 mph). The aircraft autonomously performed all maneuvers, bay door operations, and weapon-away release sequences under human operator supervision.
The next major milestone for the X-45 J-UCAS program will be the demonstration of multiple-vehicle coordinated flight. That event will take place following a series of single-vehicle checkout operations and coordinated flights between an X-45A and a manned T-33.
Posted by jjwiseman at April 19, 2004 06:39 PM