First International Version Of The Combat-Proven RQ-4 Global
Hawk
Northrop Grumman Corporation and
EADS Defence & Security (DS) introduced the first Euro Hawk(R)
unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in an unveiling ceremony Thursday at
Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, California, facility. The Euro Hawk
marks the first international configuration of the RQ-4 Global Hawk
high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAS, and solidifies Northrop
Grumman's first transatlantic cooperation with Germany and DS.
More than 300 employees from Northrop Grumman and DS and
officials from the German Air Force and Ministry of Defence (MoD)
gathered today for the ceremony, which concluded in a dramatic
curtain drop revealing the distinctively different aircraft that
will be equipped with German sensors.
"This Euro Hawk(R) is testament to
great collaboration between two companies, two countries and many,
many people," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president and general
manager of the Strike and Surveillance Systems Division for
Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Established as a
50-50 joint venture between Northrop Grumman and DS, the EuroHawk
GmbH team which oversees the program has set a precedent in
international relations for Northrop Grumman."
Based on the Block 20 Global Hawk, Euro Hawk(R) will be equipped
with new signal intelligence (SIGINT) mission system developed by
DS. A ground station consisting of a mission control and launch and
recovery elements will be provided by Northrop Grumman. DS will
also provide a SIGINT ground station, which will receive and
analyze the data from Euro Hawk(R) as part of an integrated system
solution.
"The SIGINT system provides standoff capability to detect
electronic and communications emitters," said Nicolas Chamussy,
senior vice president of Mission Air Systems for DS. "Thanks to our
outstanding partnership with Northrop Grumman, the German Armed
Forces will be able to independently cover their needs for SIGINT
data collection and analysis, thus contributing to NATO, EU and UN
peacekeeping operations."
The ceremony also included remarks by Ruediger Knopfel, deputy
branch chief of Fixed Wing Aircraft for the German MoD; Gen.
Hermann Muntz, director of Air Force Armaments and deputy commander
for the German Air Force Weapon Systems Command; and Col. Volker
Saueressig, division chief IMINT for Strategic Reconnaissance
Command.
With a wingspan larger than a commercial airliner and endurance
of 30 hours, Euro Hawk(R) is an interoperable, modular and
cost-effective replacement to the aging fleet of manned Breguet
Atlantic aircraft, which have been in service since 1972 and will
be retired in 2010. Subsequent systems are anticipated for delivery
between 2016 and 2017 following successful testing and introduction
in German operational service in 2011.
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