Post by Keith Heitmann on Dec 4, 2004 1:51:54 GMT -5
Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk Prepares for Navy Demo
By RICHARD R. BURGESS
Managing Editor
The first RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built for the Navy has begun a flight test program to prepare it for the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program. The UAV, built by Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, will be delivered to the Navy in May 2005.
The Navy RQ-4A, designated N-1, made its first flight on Oct. 6 from Palmdale, Calif., to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. N-1 is the first of two RQ-4As being built for the demonstration, scheduled to begin in June. The second, N-2, is scheduled to begin flying in early 2005.
The Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration is designed to demonstrate the value of a long-range UAV for maritime surveillance, and develop tactics and operational procedures for maritime UAVs. The Global Hawks will be used to develop new technologies, support fleet experiments and provide a deployable surveillance capability in the event of contingencies.
The Navy RQ-4As will feature sensors such as radar with maritime surveillance modes for identifying ships at sea, as well as surveillance measures for detecting and locating hostile emitters. The ground stations also will feature displays and controls for internally analyzing sensor information.
“For the first time, the Navy will have an unmanned system that can support the fleet from nearly anywhere it operates,” said Capt. Dennis Sorenson, the Navy’s UAV program manager. “The lessons learned from this program will benchmark future intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance practices for the maritime environment.”
The Navy will conduct the maritime demonstration from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., but deploy the Global Hawks from various locations.
Northrop Grumman has delivered 10 RQ-4As to the Air Force, which has used them successfully for surveillance of Afghanistan and Iraq.
An upgrade of the RQ-4A, the RQ-4B is a contender for the Navy’s Broad-Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program to augment the Multimission Maritime Aircraft, the replacement for the Navy’s P-3C patrol aircraft. The RQ-4B, which will feature more capable sensors, will compete for the BAMS selection with the Lockheed Martin/General Atomics Mariner UAV, a development of the Predator UAV.
By RICHARD R. BURGESS
Managing Editor
The first RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built for the Navy has begun a flight test program to prepare it for the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program. The UAV, built by Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, will be delivered to the Navy in May 2005.
The Navy RQ-4A, designated N-1, made its first flight on Oct. 6 from Palmdale, Calif., to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. N-1 is the first of two RQ-4As being built for the demonstration, scheduled to begin in June. The second, N-2, is scheduled to begin flying in early 2005.
The Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration is designed to demonstrate the value of a long-range UAV for maritime surveillance, and develop tactics and operational procedures for maritime UAVs. The Global Hawks will be used to develop new technologies, support fleet experiments and provide a deployable surveillance capability in the event of contingencies.
The Navy RQ-4As will feature sensors such as radar with maritime surveillance modes for identifying ships at sea, as well as surveillance measures for detecting and locating hostile emitters. The ground stations also will feature displays and controls for internally analyzing sensor information.
“For the first time, the Navy will have an unmanned system that can support the fleet from nearly anywhere it operates,” said Capt. Dennis Sorenson, the Navy’s UAV program manager. “The lessons learned from this program will benchmark future intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance practices for the maritime environment.”
The Navy will conduct the maritime demonstration from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., but deploy the Global Hawks from various locations.
Northrop Grumman has delivered 10 RQ-4As to the Air Force, which has used them successfully for surveillance of Afghanistan and Iraq.
An upgrade of the RQ-4A, the RQ-4B is a contender for the Navy’s Broad-Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program to augment the Multimission Maritime Aircraft, the replacement for the Navy’s P-3C patrol aircraft. The RQ-4B, which will feature more capable sensors, will compete for the BAMS selection with the Lockheed Martin/General Atomics Mariner UAV, a development of the Predator UAV.