As a drone the size of a fighter jet takes off from the deck of an American aircraft carrier for the first time, defence analyst James Lewis says unmanned crafts are "the future of warfare".
Tuesday's test flight in the Atlantic could eventually pave the way for the US to launch unmanned aircraft from almost anywhere in the world.
The X-47B is the first drone designed to take off and land on a carrier, meaning the US military would not need permission from other countries to use their bases.
The move to expand the capabilities of the nation's drones comes amid growing criticism of America's use of Predators and Reapers to gather intelligence and carry out lethal missile attacks in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.
"The big public display is to build support for this program, to make sure that we follow through on it and that we're willing to spend the money," said defence analyst James Lewis, who is senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
"If Congress pulls the plug on this it will set the Navy back a decade."
While the X-47B isn't intended for operational use, it will help Navy officials develop future carrier-based drones.
The next critical test for the tailless plane will come this summer, when it attempts to land on a moving aircraft carrier, one of the most difficult tasks for pilots.
Source: APTN
