System Hydraulic

On Feb. 4, 2011, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy conducted the successful first flight of the X-47B, the first carrier-capable unmanned aircraft developed for the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.

Eaton is a key system supplier to Northrop Grumman, the Navy's UCAS-D prime contractor. Eaton contributions include the X-47B fuel system, engine-driven hydraulic pumps, reservoir, selector valves, hoses, Rynglok™ tube-fitting technology, swivels, flanges, couplings and straps.

During initial aircraft development stages, Eaton worked closely with Northrop Grumman on the X-47B test rig or "iron bird," located at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in San Diego, Calif., to validate test results and provide solutions to improve hydraulic system performance. Eaton's contributions helped Northrop Grumman identify and resolve performance issues in early stages, which paved the way for the project's advancement from testing to production to the successful first flight.