Kerajinan ramping memiliki lebar sayap 50ft, ukuran panjang 36ft dan memiliki berat bruto £ 36.500. Pesawat ini dioperasikan di ketinggian 40.000 kaki, 10.000 kaki lebih tinggi dari pesawat komersial lama. Ini akan terbang dengan nyaman pada kecepatan 614mph, atau 0.8mach, hanya kalah oleh kecepatan suara.
The Phantom Ray adalah salah satu dari kendaraan demonstrasi sebagai uji terbang untuk peluang pengembangan teknologi masa depan. Ini dikembangkan oleh Boeing Phantom Works berdasarkan prototipe bahwa perusahaan itu awalnya diciptakan untuk militer AS.
Designed in a way to create a very low radar cross-section, the craft doesn’t betray its presence over enemy territories. The engine is buried within the body to reduce the infra-red signature, thus throwing missiles off its course. It is likely any weaponry on board would ‘pop out’ only when needed.
CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, Dennis Muilenburg, said: ‘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.’
The Ray has been developed in just two years through a process called rapid prototyping and manufacturing. It is scheduled for testing this summer and is due to launch in December, with 10 flights planned over six months.
‘We are on a fast track, and first flight is in sight,’ Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works, said.
Phantom Ray is designed to be a test bed for advanced technologies and support such missions as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, suppression of enemy air defences, electronic attack, strike and autonomous aerial refueling.
Sumber : (indoblog)