UAS & Robotics
Navy drone fails half of aircraft carrier landing attempts
- By Defense Systems Staff
- Jul 16, 2013
The Navy made history on July 10 when the X-47B drone completed two arrested landings on an aircraft carrier for the first time. Two other landing attempts, however, were unsuccessful.
A Navy spokesperson confirmed that the X-47B was unable to complete two additional landings. The first occurred on July 10, the second on July 15.
Due to a software malfunction of one of the X-47B’s navigation system components on July 10, the aircraft instead landed on shore. Officials also decided to abort the fourth attempt before the X-47B reached the carrier’s vicinity, the Navy Times reported. An official statement regarding the fourth landing has yet to be released.