More competition for carrierbased UAVs
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Lockheed Martin joins three other companies vying to supply the U.S. Navy with carrierbased drones that can carry out reconnaissance, fire missiles, and drop bombs. Lockheed’s UAV, the Sea Ghost, is said to be a tailless, jet-powered flying wing — a scaled-down B-2 bomber. The Sea Ghost also resembles Lockheed’s RQ-170 Sentinel. Lockheed’s teaser photo of the new UAV reveals few details, but aviation observers assume it will incorporate stealth technology, including coatings developed for Lockheed’s X-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The other UAVs designed to win the Navy contract include Boeing’s Phantom Ray, General Atomic’s Sea Avenger, and Northrop Grumman’s X-47B.