Neel Mehta
The Northrop Grumman-built X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System for the U.S. Navy has won Aviation Week’s Laureate Award in the aeronautics and propulsion category.
Northrop received the award at a Thursday event at the National Building Museum in Washington, the company announced Friday.
According to Northrop, the X-47B UCAS is the first tailless drone to land on and take off from an aircraft carrier and has completed eight catapult launches off a carrier, 30 touch-and-goes and seven arrested landings.
The unmanned aircraft will return to sea for more testing aboard an aircraft carrier and the Navy will work to develop operations concepts for unmanned carrier aviation.
Recipients of the Laureate Award are chosen for accomplishments in the field of aviation and aerospace, the company said.
