The Navy's X-47B autonomous drone reached a major milestone when it flew in 2011, and then last week when it took off and landed from a U.S. aircraft carrier.
It's impossible to overestimate the impact this aircraft will have on drone use, its ethics, and the future of manned fighters.
But what is the X-47B and why is it so earth-shattering? Here's a rundown on the bird and some shots of its groundbreaking achievement.
X-47B is a computer-controlled drone that takes off, flies a pre-programmed mission, then returns to base. All in response to mouse clicks from its mission operator.
The mission operator monitors the X-47B air vehicle’s operation ...
... but does not actively “fly” it via remote control as is the case for other unmanned systems currently in operation.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Please follow Military & Defense on Twitter and Facebook.