Tue, Dec 21, 2010
Global Hawk Variant Will Fly For The German Air Force
The German Air Force Euro Hawk UAS recently proved its long
endurance capability with a 30.3-hour flight over Edwards Air Force
Base, CA. Built by Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS
Deutschland GmbH, operating through Cassidian, the defence and
security division of EADS, the high-flying UAS took off Dec. 1 at
1647 PST and landed Dec. 2 at approximately 2259 PST.
Euro Hawk UAV
"Soaring up to 60,000 feet, the Euro Hawk performed beautifully
and has logged nearly 100 total flight hours since its maiden
flight approximately five months ago," said Duke Dufresne, sector
vice president and general manager of the Strike and Surveillance
Systems Division for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector.
"This flight not only demonstrated the aircraft's endurance
capability, but it also enabled the team to collect crucial
communications data points."
The Euro Hawk is the first international configuration of the
RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance UAS. "This milestone
is a significant step towards completion of the ferry flight to
Germany next year," said Nicolas Chamussy, senior vice president of
Unmanned Aerial Systems for Cassidian. "The aircraft will undergo
additional flight testing in Germany before being delivered to the
German Air Force by the end of 2011 to replace the fleet of manned
Breguet Atlantic aircraft which went out of service this year."
Based on the Block 20 configuration, the UAS will be equipped
with a signals intelligence mission system developed by Cassidian,
providing standoff capability to detect electronic and
communications emitters.
Delivery of four subsequent systems is anticipated between 2015
and 2016 following successful testing and introduction in German
operational service.
FMI: www.northropgrumman.com
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