IRVINE, California ...Less than a month after completing the first flight of the Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully completed second and third test flights of the first tailless, strike-fighter-sized unmanned system developed for carrier operations. Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation is a key system supplier to Northrop Grumman, the Navy’s UCAS-D prime contractor.

 

Eaton contributions include the X-47B fuel system, engine-driven hydraulic pump, reservoir, selector valve, hoses, Rynglok™ tube-fitting technology, swivels, flanges, couplings and straps.

 

“Conducting two flights of a brand new type of aircraft within one week, and both within a month of first flight, speaks not only to the robust design of the X-47B aircraft, but also to the dedication and engineering skills of the joint UCAS-D flight test team,” said Janis Pamiljans, vice president for the Navy UCAS program for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector, in a release issued by Northrop Grumman on March 17.

 

“We congratulate Northrop Grumman and Eaton team members who have played an integral role in the X-47B’s development,” said Bradley J. Morton, president of Eaton’s Aerospace Group. “Their commitment to excellence has been reflected in the aircraft’s performance during early, critical stages of the test phase.”

 

Northrop Grumman reported that the second and third X-47B test flights were conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in early March. The flights mark the beginning of a process called envelope expansion, during which the test team will begin proving that the tailless aircraft can perform safely over a broad range of altitudes, air speeds and operating weights.

 

Northrop Grumman and the Navy expect to complete the planned 49-flight envelope expansion program at Edwards Air Force Base before moving the first X-47B to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., later this year, according to Northrop Grumman’s release.

 

In the aerospace industry, Eaton is a leading supplier of hydraulic, electro-hydraulic pump and generator products and integrated systems; engine and airframe fuel pumps; electric motors; aircraft door actuation, flight and flow controls; fluid, fuel and air delivery products and systems; nose wheel steering systems; integrated control systems; cockpit controls and displays; power and load management systems; pressure sensors, seals, and fluid health monitoring products and systems. Eaton serves commercial and military aviation, aerospace, military weapons, marine and off-road markets worldwide.

 

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.