The US Navy made aviation history by launching an unmanned jet off an aircraft carrier for the first time, taking an important step toward expanded use of drones by the American military with an eye on possible rivals like China and Iran. Text: Reuters & AFP Photo: Reuters

In Pic: An X-47B pilot-less drone combat aircraft is pictured with its wings folded before being launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia, May 14, 2013.

Bat-winged X-47B stealth drone

The bat-winged X-47B stealth drone roared off the USS George H.W. Bush near the coast of Virginia and flew a series of pre-programmed maneuvers around the ship before veering away toward a Naval air station in Maryland where it was scheduled to land. Photo: AFP

X-47B used a steam catapult to launch

During its May 14 flight, the X-47B used a steam catapult to launch, just as traditional Navy warplanes do. The unarmed aircraft then landed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Scheduled to undergo testing

It is scheduled to undergo two weeks of testing aboard the carrier leading up to a landing on the ship, in which a plane's tailhook grabs a wire that will slow it and keep it from plunging overboard. Photo: Reuters

First drone designed to take off & land on aircraft carrier

The X-47B is the first drone designed to take off and land on an aircraft carrier, meaning the US military would not need permission from other countries to use their bases. Photo: US Navy

No human intervention required

The X-47B is far bigger than the Predator, has three times the range and can be programmed to carry out missions with no human intervention, the Navy said. Photo: Getty Images

While the X-47B isn't a stealth aircraft, it was designed with the low profile of one. That will help in the development of future stealth drones, which would be valuable as the military changes its focus from the Middle East to the Pacific, where a number of countries' air defences are a lot stronger than Afghanistan's. Photo: Getty Images

In Pic: In this handout the deck operators discuss the launch of an X-47B demonstrator on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W.

Range of more than 2,100 nautical miles

The X-47B can reach an altitude of more than 40,000 feet (12,192 meters) and has a range of more than 2,100 nautical miles (3,890 kilometres), versus 675 for the Predator. The Navy plans to show the drone can be refuelled in flight, which would give it even greater range. Photo: AP

In Pic: A deck operator drives an X-47B demonstrator using an arm-mounted controller on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W.

Future variants

Future variants of the drone could probably be designed for full-spectrum broadband stealth, which means it would be hard for radar to locate it, analysts said. That level of stealth would be one of the drone's major defences. Photo: Getty Images

in Pic: X-47B demonstrator performs a touch and go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Atlantic Ocean.

Will help Navy develop future carrier-based drones

While the X-47B isn't intended for operational use, it will help Navy officials develop future carrier-based drones. Those drones could begin operating by 2020, according to Rear Adm. Mat Winter, the Navy's program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons. Photo: Getty Images

Significant milestone

While the carrier takeoff represented a significant milestone, defense analysts are focused on the next step, when the Navy attempts to use what has been learned with the X-47B to develop an unmanned aircraft for actual operations. Photo: Reuters

X-47B: US Navy Makes Aviation History

The US Navy made aviation history by launching an unmanned jet off an aircraft carrier for the first time, taking an important step toward expanded use of drones by the American military with an eye on possible rivals like China and Iran. Text: Reuters & AFP Photo: Reuters

In Pic: An X-47B pilot-less drone combat aircraft is pictured with its wings folded before being launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia, May 14, 2013.