2010-08-09

Boeing's Unmanned Spy Planes

Boeing Phantom Work

The Phantom Works division is the main research and development arm of The Boeing Company. Founded by McDonnell Douglas before the merger with Boeing, its primary focus had been development of advanced military products and technologies. After the merger, research and development expanded to cover commercial and space applications as well. Phantom Works has been a driving factor behind nearly all of the company's large contracts, including the upcoming X-45.


Phantom Ray: Boeing unveils spy plane of the future

14th May 2010
It may look like a futuristic starfighter, but this sleek gun-metal craft is Boeing's latest unmanned spy plane.

Called the Phantom Ray, the cutting-edge unmanned airborne system (UAS) was unveiled at a ceremony in St Louis yesterday.

The sleek craft has a 50ft wingspan, measures 36ft long and has a gross weight of 36,500lbs. It operates at an altitude of 40,000ft, which is 10,000ft higher than the average long-haul commercial airliner. It will cruise comfortably at a speed of 614mph, or 0.8mach, just shy of the speed of sound.




Phantom Ray makes its debut in St. Louis

“Phantom Ray offers a host of options for our customers as a test bed for advanced technologies, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack and autonomous aerial refueling – the possibilities are nearly endless,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.





Phantom Eye: Boeing's new unmanned hydrogen-powered spy plane

14th July 2010
With its short, squat body and massive wingspan this is an unmanned jet with a difference - it's powered by hydrogen.

Boeing's Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system will be able to stay aloft at 65,000 feet for up to four days.

Phantom Eye is designed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions while remaining at high altitude. It will produce only water as a by-product.



Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance aircraft unveiled


"Phantom Eye is the first of its kind and could open up a whole new market in collecting data and communications," Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works, said today at the unveiling ceremony in St. Louis. "It is a perfect example of turning an idea into a reality. It defines our rapid prototyping efforts and will demonstrate the art-of-the-possible when it comes to persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The capabilities inherent in Phantom Eye's design will offer game-changing opportunities for our military, civil and commercial customers."





Sources
Boeing Phantom Works - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Phantom_Works
Phantom Ray: Boeing unveils spy plane of the future | Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1277235/Phantom-Ray-Boeing-unveils-spy-plane-future.html
Boeing Feature Story: Phantom Ray makes its debut in St. Louis
http://www.boeing.com/Features/2010/05/bds_feat_phantomRay_05_10_10.html
YouTube - boeing unveil phantom eye unmanned spy plane 12th july 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97lvvSrgkiY
Phantom Eye: Boeing's new unmanned hydrogen-powered spy plane | Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1294404/Phantom-Eye-Boeings-new-unmanned-hydrogen-powered-spy-plane.html
Boeing Feature Story: Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance aircraft unveiled
http://www.boeing.com/Features/2010/07/bds_feat_phantom_eye_07_12_10.html
YouTube - Boeing Phantom Ray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEqBvvvSgK0

Related
The Boeing Company: Defense, Space & Security
http://www.boeing.com/bds/
Boeing's Phantom Ray to fly in December | Military Tech - CNET News
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13639_3-20004554-42.html
Boeing taps hydrogen for Phantom Eye UAV | Cutting Edge - CNET News
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20010294-76.html
Boeing Phantom Ray - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Phantom_Ray
Boeing Phantom Eye - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Phantom_Eye

Labels: , ,