Warplanes: September 10, 2001

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Northrop Grumman has rolled out the X-47A Pegasus unmanned combat aircraft demonstrator. This is an arrowhead-shaped aircraft, with pointed delta wings (55 degree sweep on the forward edges, 30 degrees on the rear edges) and no tail. It is 27.9 feet long and has a wingspan of 27.8 feet. Pegasus is designed for operational research and does not have stealth coatings. It has a single engine with a thrust of 3,190 pounds. The aircraft (designed to land on a carrier and take off) weighs 4,870 pounds empty. An operational version of Pegasus would be used for recon but would have some capability to attack enemy air defenses or ground targets.--Stephen V Cole