Northrop Grumman Gets 287 Million Dollar Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Systems Contract

UAV NEWS

System delivers high altitude, long endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for warfighters

by Staff Writers
San Diego CA (SPX) Mar 19, 2007
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $287 million contract for the next production lot (Lot 5) of RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial systems. The Global Hawk system can survey vast regions to bring real-time imagery intelligence to the warfighter in any weather, day or night. "This contract award represents the continuation of a highly capable system, which has demonstrated unprecedented success in its first production deployment," said Randy Brown, Global Hawk Systems Group director with the Air Force's 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

"In 2006, it flew more than 3,300 combat hours, taking over 50,000 images directly supporting our deployed forces in support of the global war on terrorism."

The contract includes five air vehicles, one mission control element, one launch and recovery element, four enhanced integrated sensor suites (EISS) and sustaining support. Four of the five air vehicles will be in the Block 30 configuration with one in the Block 40 configuration. Block 30 air vehicles will be equipped with the EISS and will be airborne signals intelligence payload capable. The Block 40 air vehicle will be Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program payload capable.

"This award reaffirms the Air Force's confidence in Global Hawk and our commitment in keeping the program on cost and on schedule," said Jerry Madigan, Northrop Grumman vice president of the high altitude long endurance systems market segment. "These air vehicles deliver priceless intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to our warfighters."

The Global Hawk fuselage is assembled at the Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss. The fuselage is shipped to the primary Global Hawk manufacturing center in Palmdale, Calif., where the 130-foot wings are mated and final assembly completed. The first air vehicle in Lot 5 is currently in production and scheduled for delivery to the Air Force early next year. Work on this contract will continue through February 2009.

SUPERPOWERS Germany Fears US Anti-Missile Shield Could Fuel 'New Arms Race' Growing US Military Concerns For China India Developing News Alliances EU Bickers Over Birthday Card Message	NUKEWARS Iran Develops New Air Defence System US Upbeat On Korea As North Says Nuke Plant Shutdown Soon Japan Says Solid Security Needed To Counter North Korean Threat South Korea Sceptical On Nuclear Deal
MISSILE NEWS Raytheon To Enhance Patriot Global Capabilities Under Pure Fleet Contract Excalibur Completes Final Testing Clearing Path For Early Fielding LockMart Unveils New Four-Mode Guidance Ground Launched Precision Strike Missile New Hellfire-Compatible Guided Rocket Can Defeat Targets In Urban Operations	MISSILE DEFENSE US Missile Scheme Hurts Ties With Russia Russia Will Be Able To Evade US ABM System US Missile Chief Briefs Ukraine On Shield Plans US Missile Defenses Performed Well In North Korea Crisis Claims Boeing
AEROSPACE Germans Urged To Give Foreign Travel A Rest To Curb Global Warming Raytheon Team Proposes Single International Standard In ADS-B Pursuit NASA Signs Defense Department Agreement Lockheed Martin And FAA Reach Significant Milestone In Transformation Of Flight Services	UAV NEWS Northrop Grumman Gets 287 Million Dollar Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Systems Contract Boeing Prepares First US Military ScanEagle Crews Israeli Air Force Unveils Long-Range Drone New Technology Expands Air Force Combat Capability
IRAQ WARS US Rogue State U-Turn Iraq Surge Successes And Setbacks Does The Surge Needs Sadr Washington Dodgers	MILTECH Key Phase Of New B-2 Bomber Communication System To Begin Raytheon Mid-Range Munition Projectile Scores Direct Hit Against T-72 Tank Future Combat System Faces Tough Times South Korea Unveils Underwater Tank

The contents herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2005 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy statement