Tag: RQ-4

Northrop Grumman and United Technologies Corp. have recently completed the first flight test of the MS-177 long-range, multi-spectral imaging (MSI) sensor on the RQ-4B Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The MS-177 sensor is designed to provide capabilities to not only "find" targets using broad area search and different sensing technologies, but to also fix, track, and assess targets through its agility and multiple sensing modalities.

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are currently tested with Airborne Infrared (ABIR) sensors – performing persistent, forward pickets to spot hostile missile launches and track them through their flight trajectory. These missions will soon evolve as RPAs become operational, and augment existing radar and space-based sensors, providing midcourse tracking and target discrimination, to help targeting ground and ship-based missile defense interceptors. In the next phase MDA will equip even larger unmanned platforms with high-power laser systems, to perform boost-phase intercept. The agency plans to demonstrate such systems in 2021.

The Japan Ministry of Defense has selected the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft, both produced by Northrop Grumman. According to the Japanese multi-year defense plan, the four E-2D will replace the E-2Cs currently operational, providing aerial surveillance for the Japanese military.

The South Korean defense ministry submitted to the parliament a 214.5 trillion won (US$192.6 billion) budget request for the 2014-2018 fiscal year period. The...

The Japanese government has embarked on a plan to acquire the Global Hawk a high-altitude, long-distance (HALE) unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft from the United States. South Korea is also interested in buying the drone, though higher than expected costs cooled Seoul's enthusiasm about the system.

On 21 December, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible sale of four Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30(I) Global Hawk UAVs to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for an estimated sale price of $1.2 billion, almost a year after a proposed Global Hawk purchase was postponed by South Korea, due to concerns related to pricing and aircraft performance. Washington’s foot-dragging on the deal has been a major disappointment for South Korean leaders and military commanders.

A major multi-million deal to sell South Korea four Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs has been placed on hold, possibly for another year as Seoul is looking at alternatives.

The first high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) Euro Hawk Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) unmanned aircraft platform has landed today in Manching Air Base, southern Germany. The unmanned...

The Euro Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS), built by Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS Defence & Security, successfully completed its first flight June 29....

NASA, DARPA and Northrop Grumman are planning to conduct a demonstration of an in-flight aerial refueling between two Global Hawk autonomous aerial vehicles. The flight will be conducted at high altitude, highlighting fully autonomous performance of this critical phase of the flight, which will be a key factor in extending the Global Hawk's future missions.

High Altitude Long Endurance UAV - Northrop Grumman / USA Once mission parameters are programmed into Global Hawk, the UAV can autonomously taxi, take off,...