The Navy, after seeing the Air Force's plans for an ambitious Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, issued a requirement for its own UCAV. Unlike the X-45, the naval UCAV would need to land on an aircraft carrier and overcome the substantial engineering challenges of that requirement. Northrop Grumman has risen to the occasion with its X-47 Pegasus. The X-47 is a kite-shaped UAV that will demonstrate autonomous flight, takeoffs, and landings. The plane has currently progressed through its taxi testing, in preparation for a first flight. Prior to the aircraft's unveiling, Northrop Grumman used an F/A-18 Hornet to validate the aircraft's GPS-based carrier landing system.
