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发帖数: 395 | 1 ST. LOUIS, May 3, 2011 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Phantom Ray unmanned
airborne system (UAS) successfully completed its first flight April 27 at
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
The 17-minute flight took place following a series of high-speed taxi tests
in March that validated ground guidance, navigation and control and verified
mission planning, pilot interface and operational procedures. Phantom Ray
flew to 7,500 feet and reached a speed of 178 knots.
"This day has been two-and-a-half years in the making," said Darryl Davis,
president, Boeing Phantom Works. "It's the beginning of providing our
customers with a test bed to develop future unmanned systems technology, and
a testament to the capabilities resident within Boeing. Just as follow-on
tests will expand Phantom Ray's flight envelope, they also will help Boeing
expand its presence in the unmanned systems market."
The flight demonstrated Phantom Ray's basic airworthiness, setting the stage
for additional flights in the next few weeks. These company-funded flights
will prepare Phantom Ray to support potential missions that may include
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air
defenses; electronic attack; strike; and autonomous air refueling.
"The first flight moves us farther into the next phase of unmanned aircraft,
" said Craig Brown, Phantom Ray program manager for Boeing. "Autonomous,
fighter-sized unmanned aircraft are real, and the UAS bar has been raised.
Now I’m eager to see how high that bar will go."
Phantom Ray is one of several programs in Phantom Works, including Phantom
Eye, that is part of a rapid prototyping initiative to design, develop and
build advanced aircraft and then demonstrate their capabilities. Boeing's
portfolio of UAS solutions also includes the A160T Hummingbird, Integrator,
ScanEagle and SolarEagle.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the
world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in
innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's
largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered
in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business
with 66,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense. | y****t
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