Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike

The United States Navy's Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program was to develop an autonomous aircraft carrier-based unmanned combat aerial vehicle to provide an unmanned intelligence and strike asset to the fleet. After debate over whether the UCLASS should primarily focus on stealthy bombing or scouting, the Pentagon instead changed the program entirely into the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System (CBARS) to create an UAV for aerial refueling duties to extend the range of manned fighters.

Competitors

The UCLASS program currently has several competing designs and design bases:

Development