Phantom Ray UAV Capable of Completely Autonomous Operation

May 15th, 2010

Via: MSNBC:

Boeing’s sleek fighter-size Phantom Ray stealth jet will make its first flight by year’s end. This unmanned airborne system is designed for a variety of warfighter roles ranging from reconnaissance and
surveillance to aerial refueling, electronic attack and hunter/killer
missions.

The 36-foot-long aircraft, which will serve as a test bed for advanced technologies, was rolled out May 10 at the Boeing Defense, Space & Security plant in St. Louis, Mo. With its 614-mph (0.8 Mach)
cruising speed, operating altitude of 40,000 feet and 50-foot wingspan,
the 36,5000-pound Phantom Ray advances the state of the art for
unmanned aircraft. The bat-shaped flying wing has a combat radius of
1,200 nautical miles. Power comes from a General Electric F404-102D
engine.

Unlike earlier generation drones serving with the military in hot spots such as Afghanistan, where the aircraft is remotely controlled from the ground by a pilot using a joy stick, the
Phantom Ray is capable of completely autonomous operation without the
need for anyone to be at the controls, according to Boeing.