European Version Of USAF Global Hawk
Engineers with the 772nd Test Squadron facilitated
electromagnetic interference testing on a Euro Hawk unmanned
aircraft at the Benefield Anechoic Facility at Edwards AFB March 10
and 11. They teamed with representatives of Northrop Grumman
Corporation and the German government to complete the testing.
The Euro Hawk is similar to the Air Force's operational RQ-4
Global Hawk, and although EMI testing already has been conducted on
the Global Hawk, the Euro Hawk has never been flown in the unique
radio frequency environment of Europe. "There are radars and radio
stations. Our civilization is filled with electromagnetic sources,"
said Daniel Suh, NGC Euro Hawk System engineering manager. "In
highly populated areas there are more emitters so there's risk
associated in flying an unmanned aircraft in those environments.
"The BAF provided some unique testing to reduce that risk," he
said. Because of the BAF's design, it allows testers to evaluate
the aircraft's radio emissions and absorptions in an environment
that is sanitized of outside radio frequencies. This prevents those
sources from interfering and compromising the tests.
Suh said interference could have an effect on the avionics of
any aircraft with electronic equipment. Communications and
navigation systems are a few examples of electronic equipment that
could potentially face detrimental EMI effects, including failure.
The BAF is capable of simulating different electromagnetic
interference and Maj. Corey Beaverson, the 772nd TS operations
director, said the test team subjected the Euro Hawk to EMI
environments they believe the aircraft will encounter in
Europe.
"We know there are certain environments that the Euro Hawk is
going to be subjected to across the ocean and while operating in
its intended role," Beaverson said. "Are those environments going
to be safe from an electromagnetic interference and compatibility
perspective? Partnering with the Global Vigilance Combined Test
Force, Northrop Grumman and our German allies, we've developed a
series of tests to see how the aircraft reacts to some known
electromagnetic fields. What the BAF is doing is providing a clean
(radio frequency) environment and we are subjecting the Euro Hawk
to electric fields at a variety of frequencies that are
representative of what we understand the electromagnetic
environment to be in Europe," he added.
"We adjusted different frequency ranges," Suh said. "There are
specific frequencies that we look at using the antennas within the
BAF, as well as adjusting energy levels."
Suh said German Ministry of Defence officials specifically
wanted the Euro Hawk tested at the BAF because of the facility's
unique capabilities. This is one part of the Euro Hawk's
comprehensive testing at Edwards AFB that has been a collaborative
effort between the U.S. military, private industry and a foreign
ally. "I think it's a great team," Suh said. "We rolled into the
BAF at the end of January. Previously, we coordinated with the
Combined Test Force as well as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
(Ohio), in going through our detailed test plan ... making sure our
test objectives were achievable before coming to the BAF. It's been
a great experience."
The Euro Hawk has been undergoing flight testing at Edwards AFB
since last year and is expected to complete its visit to the high
desert during the summer.