X-47B Autonomous Aerial Refueling Success!

This week the Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned aircraft achieved a successful demonstration of the fully autonomous aerial refueling (AAR).  This is the first time in history that an unmanned aircraft has refueled in-flight.  AAR could help extend the operating range and flight duration of future carrier-based unmanned systems. Watch the video of the refueling here.

This is a proud day for Wind River knowing that our VxWorks real-time operating system is a key technology for this aircraft, developed as part of the Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.  See the video here. In 2013, the X-47B made history by being the first tailless, unmanned aircraft to land on and take off from an aircraft carrier.

Congratulations to Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy.

For more information about the latest X-47B achievement and reference to Wind River as a member of the Joint Industry team delivering technology to the program, see the Northrop Grumman release.  You can also learn more from the Navy’s press release.