Boeing's Phantom Ray completes first test flight

The Phantom Ray unmanned aircraft system built by Boeing Co. successfully completed its first flight on April 27 at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the company said May 3.

After a series of high-speed taxi test in March, the Phantom Ray was launched for a 17-minute flight to check the performance of its guidance, navigation and control, and pilot interface.

The company-funded flights will prepare the UAS to support potential national defense missions that might include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, suppression of enemy air defenses, electronic attack, strike and autonomous air refueling, the company said.