U.S. media: China research unmanned carrier aircraft, but the U.S. is still ahead

December 4, 2012, the United States, "Strategy Page" website published the article "UCAV completed the first launch of for (Combat the UAV Makes First Catapult Launch) This paper describes the U.S. Navy's X-47B prototype many of the details of the aircraft flight test, part of the performance of the X-47B, that the American UCAV technology is far more than China. Articles compiled now as follows:
　　November 29, 2012, the U.S. Navy X-47B UCAV (UCAV) first catapult launch from the X-47B first flight only 22 months. The aim of this emission is In order to confirm that the X-47B can withstand the pressure of the aircraft catapult. An X-47B is already loaded on top of the deck of an aircraft carrier, test mobility unmanned fighter on the deck. If all goes well, next year will be the first aircraft carrier launch, recovery of the X-47B test, the unmanned fighter landed software R & D in 2011, the U.S. Navy, and the manned F-18 Hornet fighter test The F-18 landed safely on the deck in the automatic landing software control.
　　U.S. Navy test X-47B UCAV four years time. This compact aircraft wingspan of 20 meters, 25% of the outside of the wing folding to save space, can be mounted to a load of 2 tons, the life time of 12 hours, is recognized as the next main fighter models. UCAV development in the United States ahead of other countries, Russia, Europe and China is also developing a similar spacecraft. United States The X-47B launch is bound to stimulate the UCAV developed in other countries.
　　The U.S. Navy plans to deploy unmanned combat air carrier as soon as possible, the current plan is officially installed in six years UCAV carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicles will be fitted out faster. Currently, the U.S. carriers generally takeoff bomber targets 800 km away, while the range of the aircraft and missiles with a range of potential opponents far more than 800 kilometers, research and development after the success of the X-47B unmanned fighter carrier aircraft takeoff distance expanded to 2500 km away.
　　Last year, the U.S. Navy to discuss the stealth F-35B and F-35C fighter procurement quantity mitigation program, the new X-47B UCAV procurement of savings. The U.S. Navy plans to purchase 680 stealth fighter F-35B and F-35C aircraft cost 100 million U.S. dollars. UCAV cost less than $ 50 million, but it can have the same function, but also has a greater range, and reduce the risk of pilot sacrifice.
　　Over the past 10 years, the U.S. Navy has been studying the UCAV aircraft carrier to apply, four years ago, The first X-47B prototype manufacturing, with a similar hit ground targets with Predator, "death" without The man-machine also have this ability, being replaced by the F-16 and other bombers models with the fastest speed combat missions. X-47B weighs 20 tons, 4 tons lighter than the 24-ton F-18A fighter, you can mount two tons of small bombs. X-47B installed the F100-PW-220 engine, which is now the F-16 and F-15 engine.
　　U.S. Air Force and Navy UAV slightly different timing Air Force stressed UCAV wartime quick-strike capability, the Navy UCAV replace the aircraft carrier fighter, reduce the cost of training of carrier pilots. X-47B or slightly larger X-47C although not the final carrier-based unmanned fighter Model X aircraft beginning are also test models, but after the success of R & D, responsible for reconnaissance and bombing missions model named MQ-47B .
　　U.S. Department of Defense high-level support for the Navy UCAV project, to stimulate the U.S. Air Force is also developing unmanned fighter model, in addition to the production of a sufficient number of MQ-9 UAV carries out ground attack missions, will be responsible for reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Navy UCAV can mount more weapons, longer life time, more rapid deployment capabilities.