Northrop X-47A First flight (2003). The J-UCAS program was being conducted in multiple overlapping spirals of increasing capability toward the objective system. Northrop Grumman built the X-47A air vehicle, and its associated mission control, support and simulation systems, to demonstrate the technical feasibility of J-UCAS concept. The larger X-47B air vehicle will more closely represent the operational system as currently envisioned and conduct demonstrations for both the Navy and the Air Forc