The older generation of nightmares X-47B

The success of the US successive test of the "nightmare" X-47B on the airport train has caused many countries to "sleep uneasily". But to be as successful as today X-47B can't help but "thank you" for his older generation X-45 .

Run the X-45 source

Since 1999, Boeing has become the main contractor in a contract with the US Air Force to study UCAV fabrication. Under this contract, Boeing successfully designed the first two prototypes called X-45A used for air defense or attack.

The X-45A is a stealth aircraft design with rear-wing penguin type, body structure made of synthetic material, no tail wings, wingspan of 10.31 m and total body length of 8.03 m. .

X-45A-equipped electronic devices include: network antenna radar with active electron beam scanning, SAR radar and electronic coping systems. The SAR radar designed by Raytheon is capable of 'creating' 80cm resolution images at 80km range.

The X-45 is considered a "guide" to the success of the later X-47s of the US military .

The X-45A has a combination of mounts that can carry extra oil tanks to increase the range or duration of operation, or carry the weapons needed to perform various tasks. The X-45A carries high-precision bombs. The X-45A is equipped with Honeywell's F124-GA-100 propeller turbofan engine, allowing for a cruising speed of 0.75M and a flying ceiling of about 10,000m.

The X-45A, when operated, is controlled via a ground-based UCAV control station (provided by NASA), signals transmitted via satellite data transmission channels. BAE System also has a contract with the United States to provide flight control systems.

Bring ideas for X-47B

Based on the initial project, Boeing researchers continued to develop another variant of the X-45, X-45C. Essentially, the X-45C is somewhat similar to Boeing's X-46, which was designed for the US Navy. X-45C is also designed with special shape, with wingspan of 15.24 m and no tail, total empty weight is about 16,000kg.

Electronic devices may include SAR radar, electronic coping system. In particular, the X-45C has the ability to automatically relay airborne oil. X-45C has a flying ceiling of about 12,000m, a cruise speed of 0.85M. The weapon of the X-45C is two 905kg smart bombs.

Boeing began assembling three X-45Cs from June 2004 and made its first flight in 2007. According to researchers and military experts, the X-45C is an outstanding development. for the previous generation X-45A.

The X-45 is one of the first new generation UAVs ordered by the Pentagon.

Because of this development, the X-47 series then has a very unique design style and offers more mobile features when performing aerial tasks.

It can be said that two experimental projects X-45C and X-47B are considered as the next development of America's new generation UCAV manufacturing program. These two prototypes have some new features such as higher level stealth technology, similar in size to long-range tactical fighters to meet the expectations of the near future. Air Force and US Navy.

Thus, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the X-45 was the elder, who brought a complete design idea to the X-47B to become the new American "nightmare" in the air.