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| Designation: | X-43B |
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Length: | 27 ft. |
| Wingspan: | 35 ft. |
| Armament: | JDAM or small diameter bombs |
| Mission: | Stealthy unmanned Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) |
| Description: | Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) Advanced Technology Demonstration
program. The program includes two air vehicles, a reconfigurable mission
control station and appropriate supportability elements to demonstrate the
key technologies, operational capabilities and affordability benefits of
integrating UCAVs into manned air combat operations.
The production aircraft are intended to be stealthy and carry line-of-sight as well as satellite relay communications. The vehicle will be reconfigurable for different missions and easily be stored or unstored for rapid deployment in just under an hour. The aircraft wings can be taken off and the vehicle stored in a special container that allows for an interface which can be used for maintenance checks and progamming. The vehicle can be stored for up to 10 years in the container. A multi-UAV system test in the SEAD mode is scheduled for 2002 with IOC in the 2007-2010 timeframe. For further information, visit the Boeing UCAV site. |