US Navy: Carrier Air Wing To Be Unmanned By 2025

Posted on March 10, 2008 by yojoe

The Carrier Air Wing (CVW) in the U.S. Navy currently consists of:

By the year 2025 the CVW will include a squadron of UAV, dubbed the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS). The UCAS will replace the F/A-18s. This will extend the range and loitering ability of the CVW.

The U.S. Navy’s program to determine the airframe to replace the F/A-18 is the F/A-XX program. This program underscores both the Navy and Marine Corps’s intensified interest in the future of unmanned air systems.

Naval Air Systems Command is the lead agency for acquisition strategy. According to Aviation Week,

The first demonstrator flight is set for November 2009, and carrier trials will be complete in late 2012.

It appears that UCAV and Drones will continue to define the future of air power.

yojoe (in unmanned mode) out

Filed under: Drone Aircraft, Drones, Military, Military Hardware, Military Technology, Navy, UAS, UAV, UCAV, Unmanned Aircraft |

« »

4 Responses

  1. Layla, on March 11, 2008 at 12:26 am said:

    I have always thought the drones were an inovative intervention that would lead us during times or war and times not in war. Interesting to find that I was not so far off the mark. Good read.

    Thanks for stopping by my humble blog. Come again – I accept frequent flyers! 🙂

  2. mcclaud, on March 12, 2008 at 1:57 am said:

    Not surprising.

    UAVs will begin to dominate our air forces to a degree, because there are physical limitations to what pilots can handle when flying. Such as extreme g forces.

    However, I don’t think they will replace ALL of our aircraft. I can’t see a combat transport aircraft or an AC-130 being unmanned, for example.

  3. yojoe, on March 12, 2008 at 2:15 pm said:

    Mcclaud – You are probably correct about the troop transports. But, the AC-130 will (my guess). With the crew removed Spooky will have increased time on station, extremely long with refuels.

    Thanks for the comment.

    yojoe

  4. aircraft parts, on July 2, 2008 at 8:46 am said:

    I think with the crew removed Spooky will have increased time on station, extremely long with refuels.

Leave a comment