Phantom Ray UAV passes test

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Boeing Phantom Works' unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully completed low-speed taxi tests, moving it toward first flight.

The company said the tests at Lambert International Airport allowed technicians to assess its performance and onboard systems.

The aircraft will be transferred to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on one of NASA's modified Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft. At Edwards, the Phantom Ray will undergo high-speed taxi tests before making its first flight.

The flight-test program will last approximately six months.

"The autonomous nature of this system is unique, so achieving this milestone speaks volumes about the technology and expertise of Boeing, the Phantom Works organization and the Phantom Ray team," said Dave Koopersmith, vice president, Advanced Boeing Military Aircraft.

Phantom Ray, unveiled in May, has a 50-foot wingspan and is 36 feet long. It was developed from a prototype vehicle Boeing created for the Joint-Unmanned Combat Air System program involving the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.

The vehicle is designed to support potential missions that may include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack; strike; and autonomous aerial refueling.