Unmanned Carrier-Launched Surveillance and Strike program

Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike ( UCLASS ) is a procurement program of the U.S. Navy. Subject of the procurement project is a carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle system with ISR and attack capabilities with stealth characteristics. Many of the technologies have been and are being tested as part of the UCAS -D program. In March 2013, the U.S. Navy announced that it would fund the development of four prototypes. In 2016, after completion of the prototype is to be the selection of the final solution. However, the requirements for signature, range ( air refueling ) and payload were now so greatly reduced for cost reasons, that the criticism of the use of such aircraft is growing. Recently, the focus has been reinforced given to long flight times in only slightly verteidigtem airspace. This requires a fundamentally different aircraft design, which led to resentment among the industrial companies that had invested considerable own funds in preliminary studies and the development of prototypes.

In August 2013, the following companies received a contract for a preliminary study:

• Northrop Grumman with a further development of the X -47B Pegasus
• Lockheed Martin with the Sea Ghost
• General Atomics with a derivative of the Avenger, called Sea Avenger
• Boeing with a further development of the Boeing Phantom Ray