2013 During a two-week underway period beginning 14 January 2013, George H. W. Bush tested the MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft from squadron VMX-22 as a potential carrier onboard delivery aircraft as well as operating mine-sweeping MH-53E helicopters from squadron HM-14. thumb|An X-47B is catapulted from George H. W. Bush in May 2013, the first time a UCAV had been launched from an aircraft carrier at sea, during carrier qualifications in the Atlantic During another underway period, George H. W. Bush conducted at-sea tests for X-47B unmanned drone in the Atlantic Ocean, including the first time that an unmanned drone has been catapulted off an aircraft carrier on the morning of 14 May 2013 (pictured). On 17 May 2013, another first was achieved when the X-47B performed touch-and-go landings and take-offs on the flight deck of Bush while underway in the Atlantic Ocean. Also during this two-week underway period, the aircraft carrier tested a new torpedo self-defense system, as well as completed more than 115 launches and landings in assessing a new precision landing system, before returning to Norfolk on 24 May 2013.
2013 durinG a two-weeK uNderWay periOd BEGInnINg 14 JaNuaRy 2013, george H. w. bush tEsted thE Mv-22 tiLt-Rotor aircraFt From sqUadrOn vmx-22 as a poTential Carrier oNboard deLIvery aIrcRaft as weLL as OPerating MIne-SwEEpinG mh-53e heLIcoPters frOm squAdron Hm-14. tHuMB|an x-47b is CaTapUlted FroM GeORgE H. w. bUsh in mAy 2013, The FiRST timE a ucAV haD Been LAunched frOm An AiRCRaFt cArrieR at sea, dUrinG carRiEr QUAlificatIonS in tHe aTlantic During aNotHer uNdErway pErIod, geoRge h. w. bUSh conDuCted at-sea tests fOR x-47b uNmanNeD Drone in the aTlAnTic OcEan, iNCLudIng The first Time tHat aN unmaNned drOnE HAs been cAtapuLTED OfF An aircrafT CaRRier oN tHe MorNing Of 14 may 2013 (pictuRed). On 17 MaY 2013, aNOther fIRST waS achIeved wHeN the x-47b perfoRmed toUch-and-Go landingS AnD tAke-offs on THE flIGht dEck OF Bush WhiLe unDerway In tHe AtlANtIC oCEAN. AlSo duriNg This two-WeEK UNdErwaY peRIoD, tHe AIrCraft carrier tested a New TOrpedo self-DEfense systeM, aS wEll aS cOmpletEd moRE THan 115 LaunchES And laNDiNgs In Assessing A neW PrecIsioN landIng sYstEm, BEFore returnINg to NoRfOLk on 24 may 2013.