Northrop Grumman and U.S. Air Force Unveil Next-Generation of High-Flying Global Hawk

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UNITED STATES - 25 JUNE 2009

PALMDALE, Calif. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force unveiled the next-generation of high-flying unmanned aircraft - the RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk - in a ceremony today at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif., manufacturing facility.

"This unveiling of the first of 15 Block 40 aircraft is a significant step to fielding Global Hawk to Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, in 2010 and reaffirms our excellent track record of delivering Global Hawks since low rate production began," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president for Northrop Grumman Aerospace System's Strike and Surveillance Systems Division.

"Carrying an advanced, all-weather multi-platform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP) sensor, the Block 40 aircraft will provide game-changing situational awareness for our warfighters with its unprecedented capability to detect, track and identify stationary and moving targets."

Use of the MP-RTIP sensor on the Block 40 Global Hawks marks the first time the active electronic scanned array (AESA) technology has been used on a high-altitude unmanned aircraft. AESA technology provides all-weather, day-night synthetic aperture radar mapping and ground moving target indicator capability.

"The Global Hawk system is in high demand by joint warfighters overseas, having successfully flown more than 31,000 hours since 2001," said Steve Amburgey, Global Hawk program director for the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "Congratulations to the entire Global Hawk team for continuing to provide our service men and women with a reliable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system."

Designated AF-18, this Block 40 aircraft was the 27th Global Hawk built since the program's inception in 1995 and is scheduled to begin flight testing next month.

"This magnificent aircraft represents the future of Grand Forks Air Force Base. This and the rest of the Block 40 fleet will make significant contributions to the safety and security of our nation for years to come," said Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota. "I look forward to seeing this airframe on the Grand Forks ramp next year."

Global Hawk's range, endurance and large payload capabilities are well suited to support a variety of customers and missions, including environmental and Earth science research, homeland security, border and coastal patrol, hurricane and fire monitoring, and other disaster relief support activities. Global Hawk effectively provided imagery of the California wildfires in 2007 and 2008, and of Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Flying at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours per sortie at speeds approaching 340 knots, the MP-RTIP-equipped Block 40 Global Hawk can persistently see through most type of weather, day or night. As the world's first fully autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system, Global Hawk is the platform of choice for a wide variety of sensors, foreign and domestic, meeting the global need for persistent ISR.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the Global Hawk and MP-RTIP programs and continues to move these technologies forward under the stewardship of the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Electronic Systems Center, located at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Northrop Grumman's Norwalk, Conn., facility is the principal MP-RTIP radar developer along with principal subcontractor, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo. The development MP-RTIP sensor is undergoing a radar system level performance verification on a surrogate aircraft, and will be integrated into AF-18 for an operational evaluation.

Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk program is based at its Aerospace Systems' Unmanned Systems Development Center in San Diego, Calif. The company performs Global Hawk sub-assembly work at its Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss., and final assembly at its Antelope Valley Manufacturing Center in Palmdale.

The principal Global Hawk industry team includes: Aurora Flight Sciences, Bridgeport, West Va. (V-tail assembly and other composite structures); L-3 Communications, Salt Lake City (communication system); Raytheon Company, Waltham, Mass. (ground station); Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis (engine); and Vought Aircraft Industries, Dallas (wing).

The Global Hawk Block 40, the first UAV fitted with an active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar, will begin flight tests in July.



Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation

 

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Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft Continues to Soar With Successful Overseas Operations Support, Next-Generation Payload Flight Testing
UNITED STATES - 2 JULY 2009

The combat-proven RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS), built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), continues to prove its mettle by exceeding more than 31,000 cumulative flight hours for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. More than 76 percent of these flight hours were flown in support of overseas contingency operations (OCO) efforts.

"Global Hawk has been a tremendous asset in OCO support, flying more than 1,100 missions in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom," said Steve Amburgey, Global Hawk program director for the 303d Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "With four aircraft now surging overseas at 97 percent mission effectiveness, the highest of any deployed system, the Global Hawk has consistently demonstrated its resiliency and capabilities."

This milestone comes on the heels of several recent successes, including the Global Hawk's 2,000th mission, deployment of the first Navy aircraft for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstration (BAMS-D) program, the first series of flight tests for its Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) on the Block 30 configuration, and completion of initial testing of the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor for the Block 40 aircraft.

"Ever since its first OCO deployment in 2001, Global Hawk has provided persistent surveillance -- an unblinking eye -- over and from any place on the planet," said George Guerra, Northrop Grumman vice president of high altitude long endurance (HALE) systems. "These recent achievements are a testament to the robustness of the system, as well as the excellent partnership we have with our customers to ensure our technology is meeting the mark."

Able to simultaneously detect, identify and locate electronic and communications signals as well as special signals, the ASIP sensor will also be used onboard the Global Hawk's manned counterpart, the U-2. ASIP testing is scheduled for completion later this year.

The MP-RTIP tests verified system performance of the Synthetic Aperture Radar and Ground Moving Target Indicator dedicated modes as part of the Radar System Level Performance Verification program. The first Block 40 aircraft, AF-18, has been assembled and awaiting flight testing by the Air Force.

To date, the Global Hawk program has been on cost and on schedule for three straight years. All nine of the Block 10 configurations have been completed and delivered, seven for the Air Force and two for the Navy's BAMS-D program. All of the six Block 20s have been delivered and the rest of the fleet are in various stages of production and flight testing, including 17 Block 30s and one Block 40.

"Global Hawk, which can fly three times as long and operates at more than half the cost per flight hour than its manned counterpart, is the best value system for our warfighters," said Guerra. "Compared to other similar UAS, it only takes a single Global Hawk to collect the same information as 18 smaller medium-altitude unmanned systems."

Costing approximately $30 million each, without the applicable sensor package, Global Hawk's range, endurance and large payload capabilities are well suited to support a variety of customers and missions, including environmental and Earth science research, homeland security, border and coastal patrol, hurricane and fire monitoring, and other disaster relief support activities.

The Global Hawk is the world's first fully autonomous HALE UAS, collecting persistent ground surveillance data over a wide area for both military intelligence analysis and warfighters' battle management and targeting. Global Hawk can fly at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours, providing surveillance day or night, regardless of weather conditions.

Global Hawks are currently flown in four locations across the globe: Beale Air Force Base, home of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and the RQ-4's main operating base, in Northern California; Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California; Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland; and in support of the OCO efforts.

Northrop Grumman's principal Global Hawk teammates include: Aurora Flight Sciences, Bridgeport, West Va. (V-tail assembly and other composite structures); L-3 Communications, Salt Lake City (communication system); Raytheon Company, Waltham, Mass. (integrated sensor suite and ground station); Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis (engine); and Vought Aircraft Industries, Dallas (wing).


Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation

 

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Global Hawk wet runway testing yields positive results
UNITED STATES - 1 APRIl 2010

EDWARDS U.S. AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airmen, civilians and contractors of the 452nd Flight Test Squadron here conducted RQ-4 Global Hawk wet runway testing with positive results throughout March here.

The wet runway test required the Global Hawk to demonstrate taxiing and stopping from 6, 12, 30, 50 and 70 knots.

The Block 20 Global Hawk recently taxied down the 8,000-foot runway at 70 knots, coming smartly to a stop and thus completing the final speed requirement in the testing phase.

"This testing is for specification compliance, whether we can meet our targeted landing and distance goal on a wet runway," said Dave Tangren, the 452nd FLTS lead engineer for flight systems. "Because our plane has a completely new landing gear and brake system, we're looking closely at anti-skid and stopping performance."

The Block 20 Global Hawk has a new electrical braking system with a differential brake capability and anti-skid functions, making it the only remotely piloted aircraft with this brake design. Its predecessor, the Block 10 Global Hawk, uses a hydraulic brake system. The different braking system on this significantly larger Global Hawk version makes these tests crucial.

Civil engineers come out in the early morning darkness to sweep the runway for foreign object debris before the test starts. The runway is then watered down by contractors followed by firefighters who spray a diluted protein foam solution, which slows the water run-off and helps keep the runway slippery.

The water and foam solution are applied to the runway using a unique spray bar that has nozzels and is attached to a truck, specifically designed by engineers in the squadron. After the runway is wet down, a truck equipped with a runway-friction-measuring-system drives through the water to measure the runway condition reading. The RCR needs to be between 13 and 17 indicating that the runway is indeed wet and provides enough friction.

"Basically a 21 or above is dry, a 13 to 17 is wet, and 12 and below is icy," said Jan Rehacek, 452 FLTS subsystems engineer. "This method quantifies how slippery the runway is."

Once it is determined the runway is ready and personnel are clear, the "go" command is sent and the Global Hawk begins its taxi down the runway. The aircraft is followed by base officials in a truck who serve as the eyes and ears of the test. The Global Hawk must begin its taxi and acceleration within approximately 30 seconds after getting the green light.

"All of this is timed with only minutes and seconds apart," said Thomas Stiles, the 452nd FLTS project manager. "If the time delay is too great then the RCR will go up, and water will diminish across the runway, so timing is critical."

The wet runway test takes an enormous amount of coordination and setup. Along with CE and firefighters, there are engineers, controllers from Ridley Mission Control Center, contractors and Airmen.

"The choreography is phenomenal," Mr. Stiles said. "It's not like an airplane taking off on a mission because there is so much more ground activity involved and the choreography is critical. Everybody is an intricate part of the testing, a total team effort."

The 452nd FLTS staff is scheduled to wrap up the wet runway testing in April. The successful completion of wet runway testing marks some of the final testing requirements in the overall Block 20 Global Hawk testing prior to the initial operational test and evaluation.

 

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USAF Global Hawk flies first operational mission over Canada
UNITED STATES - 12 APRIL 2010

In another historical stride forward for the RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted vehicle program, the aircraft flew its first operational mission over Canadian airspace, April 8.

The aircraft was flown by pilots and sensor operators from the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron based out of Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

According to Capt. Kyle Blaikie with the 12th RS, this was first time a Global Hawk flew over Canada on a nontraining mission. The Global Hawk previously participated in the Canadian exercise Maple Flag.

"We used to fly from Beale to Naval Air Station Patuxent River and then down range from there," he said. "This new route utilized the great circle instead of the old rhumb line navigation, which reduces flight time by 37 percent."

Captain Blaikie explained it's more efficient to fly a northern route than to fly in a straight line when traveling long distances.

"When you fly from California to New York, instead of flying straight across the U.S., aircraft will take a northern route because it's less distance due to the curvature of the earth," he said.

The use of the new route over Canada will reduce the time it takes to ferry aircraft back and forth from forward operating locations.

"We need to bring the aircraft back and forth from the desert so that we can perform critical maintenance at Beale." Captain Blaikie said. "The process of taking aircraft from Beale to forward operating locations used to take months, and now we have streamed line this process into a single 26-hour flight."

For this historic flight to take place, the 12th RS worked closely with other countries to obtain the necessary clearances to utilize their airspace.

"I can't say enough good things about our neighbors to the north," he said. "Everyone that I worked with from the Canadian air force to NAV CANADA, the Canadian version of the FAA, were very cooperative in allowing us to accomplish this mission."

This mission showcases the capacity of the Global Hawk to fly long distances.

"No other remotely piloted aircraft can take off and fly 26 hours around the world without midair refueling," he said.


Airmen from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare to launch a RQ-4 Global Hawk April 8 from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. During the flight, the aircraft flew over Canadian airspace for the first time during a nontraining mission.

 

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Operations center keeps Global Hawk flying
UNITED STATES - 20 MAY 2010

BEALE U.S. AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Inside the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron here, RQ-4 Global Hawk pilots and sensor operators watch a myriad of monitors and computers screens in a space that resembles NASA's mission control.

The pilots and sensor operators are not observing the space shuttle orbiting the Earth; they are keeping an eye on all Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft missions flown by aircrews from Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

"With RPAs, you have unprecedented access to the pilot," said Capt. William Phillips with the 12th RS. "Anyone can walk up to the pilot or call them on the phone, and it can be very distracting, with the Global Hawk ops center there is one central location to call, which facilitates easy communications."

The pilots and sensor operators working in the Global Hawk operations center act as liaisons between the pilots flying the actual missions and the various taskings they receive during a mission, which allows the pilot to focus on flying the aircraft in the mission control element, or MCE.

"It allows us to have one complete picture of all Global Hawk operations, so that we can best meet the needs of our customers in order to provide the best possible intelligence," Captain Phillips said.

The sensor operators play a vital role in the operations center by programming new imagery requests into the sensor suites and ensuring the highest quality of all imagery from the aircraft.

"We track all of the imagery requests and also assist with any issues that may arise during the mission," said Senior Airman Jamaica Mickens with the 12th RS. "We can also back up the MCE and sit down with the sensor operators and show them different techniques on how to do things faster."

She said a lot of multitasking is involved in the operations center.

"It's like a juggling game because there are so many different things that you have to keep track of during a mission," she said.

In the event of an in-flight emergency, the operations center provides a second layer of support.

"Even though, there is no crew flying in the aircraft, this can be thought of as a crew airplane, where the pilot is focused on flying the mission, and we can read off checklists and make contacts to help bring the aircraft down safely," Captain Phillips said.

The crews in the operations center are also liaisons between the deployed locations of the Global Hawk and the pilots flying the aircraft from Beale.

"When the Global Hawks are deployed in the Middle East they belong to the forward deployed CAOC (combined air operations center)," said Captain Phillips. "We help keep all of the key players in the loop of what is going on with the Global Hawk mission."

To qualify to work in the operations center, Global Hawk pilots must have 150 flight hours and sensor operators must have 250 flight hours.

"Pilots already have experience in flying various airframes before coming into the program and sensor operators don't have as much flying experience as most come from the intelligence community," Captain Phillips said.

As the Global Hawk missions continue to increase and provide intelligence supporting troops on the ground and assisting with humanitarian missions, the Global Hawk operations center will continue to meet the needs of those who rely on the intelligence products that are gathered.

"As we expand operations, having the one Global Hawk ops center coordinating all actions will help missions run more effectively," the captain said.


An U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk soars through the skies to record intelligence, surveillence and reconnaissance data. Because of its large coverage area the Global Hawk has become a useful tool for recording data and sending it to warfighters on the ground.

 

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Northrop Grumman Opens Grand Forks Office to Support Global Hawk Basing
UNITED STATES - 21 MAY 2010

GRAND FORKS, N.D., May 24, 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) opened an office here in a ceremony on May 21 to provide support for the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) being assigned to Grand Forks Air Force Base.

The office could eventually employ more than 100 people and attract suppliers and subcontractors as the number of aircraft increase at the base.

"As we heard at the UAS Summit, it's clear the Global Hawk UAS will remain a key cog in our national defense. Northrop Grumman and the people of Grand Forks will be vital partners in supporting these aircraft," said U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (D - N.D.). "I believe Northrop Grumman's investment in North Dakota represents the beginning of a long and successful business relationship with both the Air Force Base and the university in Grand Forks."

"This is another exciting addition to the high-tech hub of UAS activity we've worked to create in the Red River Valley Research Corridor," said U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D - N.D.). "Northrop Grumman is a world-class company with top-notch products that are distributed around the globe. Its presence here further demonstrates that this area is becoming a first-class UAS center in the U.S."

"The Red River Valley is very quickly becoming a center of UAS research and activity. We have a growing UAS mission, the world's best aviation school, and a community that is interested in supporting this industry. Northrop Grumman's decision to bring an office to Grand Forks is a big boost for the local economy, but I believe it will also pay off for the company and for our country," said U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy (D - N.D.).

At the opening ceremony, George Guerra, Northrop Grumman vice president for High Altitude – Long Endurance (HALE) Systems, presented a $25,000 grant in the form of a large facsimile check to the University of North Dakota for the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences recognizing its advances in the area of unmanned systems research. The University of North Dakota is the first school to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations.

"We are committed to being part of the Grand Forks community," Guerra said. "Northrop Grumman is serious about supporting our customers wherever our products are based and this office will be the foundation of that commitment to Grand Forks Air Force Base, the local community and the State of North Dakota."

Capable of flying at altitudes up to 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours at a time at speeds approaching 340 knots (391 mph), Global Hawk can be equipped with a variety of visual and electronic sensors and communication relays.

Global Hawk has been flying more than 12 years, including operations in national airspace in the U.S. and other countries. It is still the only UAS to receive both a U.S. Air Force airworthiness certificate and a Federal Aviation Administration certificate of authority, allowing routine operation in civil airspace.


Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation

 

[razgriz19]

seems like a smaller and stealthier version of global hawk!

 

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U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy officials partner on unmanned aircraft systems
UNITED STATES - 2 JULY 2010

WASHINGTON | In a signed memorandum of agreement, Air Force and Navy officials partnered to maximize commonality, eliminate redundant effort and increase interoperability between the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aircraft systems and the RQ-4 Global Hawk system.

Signed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead June 12, the MOA directs specific actions to achieve an integrated training, maintenance and operational approach based on platform similarities. The MOA also directs the establishment of a Synergies Working Group to identify synergies in basing, maintenance, aircraft command and control, training, logistics, and data requirements commonalities.

Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and Vice Adm. Jack Dorsett, the Navy deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance, will act as leads for their respective services directing and developing BAMS UAS and Global Hawk synergies.

"This MOA is a tremendous step forward between our two services," General Deptula said. "It sets the standard for what can be achieved by seeking service interdependence."

General Deptula explained the two services will achieve synergy in personnel, equipment and training while reducing overall cost to the Department of Defense.

"The result of this integrated approach will be greater capacity for quick, reliable and sustainable ISR for combatant commanders," the general said.

Navy officials expressed similar confidence in the success the agreement will yield.

"This agreement allows us to leverage the shared and complementary expertise of the Navy and Air Force and deliver agile, interoperable systems to the warfighter," Admiral Dorsett said. "We also look forward to the increased efficiencies that this approach will deliver to the benefit of both the BAMS and Global Hawk programs."

Although the MOA does not obligate funds, it does focus on identifying commonalities, interoperability and joint efficiencies.

The MOA specifically directs BAMS UAS and Global Hawk programs to look at options for joint Navy and Air Force squadron organizations; joint basing in various theaters, subject to combatant commander approval where required; squadron-level consolidated maintenance facility; and joint aircraft command and control, and training.

BAMS UAS will be a forward-deployed, land-based, remotely-operated system that provides a persistent maritime ISR capability as a key component of the Navy's family of unmanned systems to achieve maritime domain awareness. Initial operating capability is scheduled for 2015.

 

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ESC radar program moves forward
UNITED STATES - 13 JULY 2010

HANSCOM U.S. AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Electronic Systems Center's Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program recently reached a significant milestone when the sensor and first software baseline were delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for the next step -- integration on a Global Hawk aircraft.

MP-RTIP increases warfighters' situational awareness through improved radar imagery. Flight testing up to this point has been performed in Mojave, Calif., on a scaled composites test bed aircraft, known as "Proteus." A total of 259 test flights were completed, with 1,062 hours of radar "on" time.

"We have made significant progress in the development of the sensor and are pleased with its performance," said Col. Jim Shaw, the MP-RTIP program director. "The ground moving target indicator and synthetic aperture radar dedicated modes are working, and we are ready to move into the next phase of system test."

"Dedicated modes" refers to GMTI and SAR functioning independently and serially. "Concurrent modes" refers to GMTI and SAR running simultaneously. The software delivered to the Global Hawk program includes concurrent mode functionality. Nine additional contractor development tests and evaluation flights on Proteus are planned to continue to improve the performance of concurrent radar modes.

It has been "technically challenging" to get the concurrent modes up and running, Colonel Shaw said. Concurrent modes ensure that warfighters can collect SAR data without interrupting GMTI tracks.

"We are giving the warfighter improved capabilities," he said.

MP-RTIP capability was operationally demonstrated for the Army during a recent ground exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. The MP-RTIP sensor was flown to demonstrate its unique capabilities in an operationally relevant environment.

"Several members of the Operations Group at the NTC were pretty happy with what they saw," Colonel Shaw said.

After the concurrent mode testing is completed, the MP-RTIP team at the ESC will move into a support role, and the Global Hawk Program Office at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, will have the lead. The ESC team was responsible for system design and development, and MP-RTIP is now moving to integration and test on a Global Hawk aircraft.

"We have done a lot of work to lessen any risks associated with the integration to Global Hawk," the colonel said. "It's designed to be a seamless transition."

As the ground integration and flight testing on Global Hawk is scheduled to occur in the near future, the ESC government and contractor teams will be engaged throughout the entire process, providing detailed insight into radar operations and performance.

"A lot of great people have put a lot of great work into this program to get us to this point," Colonel Shaw said. "We wouldn't have been able to get here without their dedication."

 

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Northrop Grumman Block 40 Global Hawk Successfully Completes Major Flight Test Milestone
UNITED STATES - 19 JULY 2010

EDWARDS U.S. AIR FORCE BASE - - Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) first Block 40 RQ-4 Global Hawk high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has completed envelope expansion flights, just six months after conducting its first flight. The Block 40 aircraft will be equipped with the high performance Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor and is the first of 22 Block 40 Global Hawks assigned to Grand Forks U.S. Air Force Base, North Dakota.

The company also delivered on time the first development test MP-RTIP sensor to Edwards AFB for integration on the aircraft. The MP-RTIP sensor has completed radar system level performance verification on a surrogate aircraft, and will be integrated into AF-18, a Block 40 Global Hawk aircraft, for operational evaluation.

"The MP-RTIP-equipped Global Hawk illustrates Northrop Grumman's unique ability to create a system that will provide game-changing situational awareness for our warfighters with its unprecedented capability to detect, track and identify stationary and moving targets," said Duke Dufresne, vice president of the Strike and Surveillance Systems division of Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Our next step is to finalize sensor integration with the airframe and conduct the first flight of the full Block 40 system later this year."

"The MP-RTIP sensor has proven to perform above and beyond expectations," said George Vardoulakis, Northrop Grumman vice president of MP-RTIP. "The superior technology of the MP-RTIP will prove to be an invaluable resource to the warfighter."

Global Hawk's range, endurance and large payload capabilities are well suited to provide persistent surveillance with MP-RTIP. Flying at altitudes up to 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours per sortie at speeds approaching 340 knots, the MP-RTIP-equipped Block 40 Global Hawk can persistently see through most types of weather, day or night. As the world's first fully autonomous HALE UAS, Global Hawk is the platform of choice for a wide variety of sensors, foreign and domestic, meeting the global need for persistent ISR.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the Global Hawk and MP-RTIP programs and continues to move these technologies forward under the stewardship of the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Electronic Systems Center, located at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Northrop Grumman's Norwalk, Conn., facility is the principal MP-RTIP radar developer along with principal subcontractor, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, Calif.

AF-18, the first Block 40 Global Hawk, shown during its first flight in late 2009, has completed envelope expansion flights. The next step is to finalize Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor integration with the airframe and conduct the first flight of the full Block 40 system later this year.

Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation

 

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Cobham Chosen for Global Hawk UAS Refuelling Demo Program
UNITED STATES - 23 JULY 2010

Northrop Grumman recently announced the selection of Cobham Mission Equipment as a major subcontractor for the KQ-X program. This DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) program will demonstrate autonomous aerial refuelling between two unmanned NASA Global Hawk aircraft. Cobham Mission Equipment will be providing the hose and drogue refuelling system in addition to engineering support and aerial refuelling expertise.

Iain Gibson, Vice President of Cobham Mission Equipment, said "Cobham is proud to be a part of the Northrop Grumman team supporting this ground breaking DARPA program that further advances leading edge aerial refuelling capability".


Source: Cobham