Pratt & Whitney’s F100-PW-220U engine and exhaust system have successfully powered the first flight of the second Northrop Grumman X-47B flight test aircraft for the US Navy’s unmanned combat air system carrier demonstration (UCAS-D) programme.

The flight of the tailless, autonomous aircraft known as Air Vehicle 2 (AV-2) took place at Edwards Air Force Base on November 22 and lasted for about 30 minutes.

“The successful flight of the second UCAS aircraft is a testament to a strong partnership between Pratt & Whitney and our teammates from Northrop Grumman and the United States Navy,” said Jimmy Reed, Director of Advanced Engine Programs for Pratt & Whitney. “We have worked diligently to get ready for these tests and Pratt & Whitney’s propulsion system performed well, allowing the aircraft to complete all planned activity during the flight.”

Northrop Grumman awarded a contract to Pratt & Whitney in 2008 to develop and integrate the engine and exhaust system for the X-47B. The Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220U engine, a derivative of the F100-PW-220 and -220E engine models that power the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon, enjoys the maturity gained from more than 12 million hours of operational experience. The engine and unique exhaust system have successfully completed ground accelerated mission testing. The accelerated mission test simulated the planned usage of the propulsion system during the X-47B flight test program. This endurance test demonstrated the durability and performance of the F100-PW-220U unique engine hardware and the exhaust system.

The F100-PW-220U engine is capable of providing up to 16,000 pounds of thrust and is intended for operation in a maritime environment, including carrier deck operations. The successful addition of AV-2 to the demonstration programme provides a critical inflection point for the UCAS-D flight test programme. Carrier demonstrations for the unmanned combat air system are scheduled in 2013.