# X-47B takes off from carrier **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410 "2013-05-15T15:21:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410/41 "2013-07-10T14:27:34Z")
What tech development absolutely separates the X47B from the Beast of Kandahar (which may or may not be the [Lockheed RQ-170 Sentinel)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_RQ-170_Sentinel)? Will make new thread if requested to avoid hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410/42 "2013-07-11T03:14:23Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > According to the AP, the Navy is attempting to land the drone on the USS GHW Bush [today](http://news.yahoo.com/navy-attempt-1st-unmanned-carrier-landing-093729424.html). I’m sure we’ll hear shortly how it came out. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_KxZa8W_H4M/maxresdefault.jpg "X-47B Launch And Recover USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KxZa8W_H4M) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/z5Qq6dOV1zY/maxresdefault.jpg "X-47B First Carrier Arrested Landing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Qq6dOV1zY) Awesome. Simply awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410/43 "2013-07-11T16:03:19Z")
Thats a yes, drone landed on carrier “today”. Proving it can… by doing it. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410/44 "2013-07-12T13:26:42Z")
I would say this marks the beginning of the end (of manned naval fighter planes). RP drones are a much better deal-cheaper, longer endurance, and no multimillion $$/multi-year training program. In a way, this is as significant as Eugene Ely’s first carrier landing (1913); only we have a big lobby that will fight the introduction of unmanned carrier fighters to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410/45 "2013-07-12T13:28:48Z")
I’m picturing gigantic swarms of cheap fighter drones, a-la _Total Annihilation._ ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410/46 "2013-07-12T17:05:38Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I would say this marks the beginning of the end (of manned naval fighter planes). RP drones are a much better deal-cheaper, longer endurance, and no multimillion $$/multi-year training program. In a way, this is as significant as Eugene Ely’s first carrier landing (1913); only we have a big lobby that will fight the introduction of unmanned carrier fighters to the end. That lobby is called “Naval aviators,” and “technological feasibility.” The difference between landing a UAV on a carrier and having an effective drone fighter squadron is pretty much the difference between launching a V-2 rocket and landing a man on the moon. There is no good way to control UAVs in hostile territory or allow them to engage in a dogfight, and there probably won’t be for at least a decade, and probably several more. Just like Predator drones – slow, simple machines that function well in uncontested skies – are not the end of F-15s, F-16s, or F-35s; the X-47 simply isn’t the end of F-18s or F-35s. That’s a long way off. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410/47 "2013-07-16T21:25:16Z")
The X-47B has successfully landed on the carrier on two out of four attempts. That’s pretty good for a totally new capability, but it is not the final nail in the coffin of manned naval aviation, either. Plus it looks like the X-47B might not fly again, since the Navy is calling the tests successful. [Link.](http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130716/DEFREG02/307160015/X-47B-Fails-Fourth-Landing-Attempt) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-47b-takes-off-from-carrier/658410.md?page=2)