The future Navy needs for carrier launched UAVs are well described by the below sites. All fall under the simplified set of requirements of full closed loop control of the launch event, minimizing peak to mean acceleration at the start of the launch event and the ability to provide the correct launch energy to a wide range of launch vehicles, from the lightest to the heaviest while imposing the least possible stress on the airframe of the launched vehicles.

 

This is the intent of the ICCALS technology upgrade of the C13-2 steam catapults to give the existing catapults a greatly expanded range of function and capability, that meets or exceeds the capability of any current or planned catapult at a significant reduction in:

-  required manpower and maintenance,

-   volume requirement within the ship,

-   weight of the system, particularly topside weight,

-  cost of development,

-   peak to mean acceleration,

-   installed cost.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As an example, the Navy's Fighter-Plane-Size UAV, the X-47B could soon be one of the most lethal unmanned aircraft in the U.S. military.
The X-47 was designed to be adept at long-range surveillance because of its large range and high flight ceiling. And despite being a beast--it will have a 62-ft wingspan and weigh around 45,000 pounds at takeoff--the X-47B is designed for stealth. This aircraft shows the Navy's growing embrace of unmanned technology, including both unmanned underwater vehicles and aerial vehicles. But the X-47B would be a technological step forward--besides carrying stealth features, it is supposed to have the ability to execute some maneuvers, such as refueling in midflight, autonomously

More Naval UAV systems Information