Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS) successfully completed its first flight April 27 at NASA\u2019s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.\u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis day has been two-and-a-half years in the making,\u201d said Darryl Davis, president, Boeing Phantom Works. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s flight envelope, they also will help Boeing expand its presence in the unmanned systems market.\u201d<\/p>\n
The flight demonstrated Phantom Ray\u2019s 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.
\n\u201cThe first flight moves us farther into the next phase of unmanned aircraft,\u201d said Craig Brown, Phantom Ray program manager for Boeing. \u201cAutonomous, fighter-sized unmanned aircraft are real, and the UAS bar has been raised. Now I\u2019m eager to see how high that bar will go.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s portfolio of UAS solutions also includes the A160T Hummingbird, Integrator, ScanEagle and SolarEagle.<\/p>\n