RQ-4 to support US hypersonic missile test efforts
Modified RQ-4 Global Hawks will support US SkyRange hypersonic missile flight tests. (Photo: US DoD)
RQ-4B Global Hawks will be integrated with advanced payloads to give the aircraft the capability to support testing of hypersonic vehicles for the US military.
Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk has been selected to support US SkyRange programme hypersonic missile flight tests from its Grand Sky facility in North Dakota, the company announced on 24 August.
Under the SkyRange initiative, Block 20 and 30 RQ-4B aircraft are being transferred to the DoD Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) to be reconfigured into RangeHawks.
The conversion will integrate advanced payloads to equip the aircraft with the capability to support the testing of hypersonic vehicles and other long-range weapons, Northrop Grumman noted in a statement.
Previous hypersonic testing relied on ship-based tracking but given the RQ-4's flexibility and built-in sensors, they can offer a cheaper and operationally less complex alternative.
According to the manufacturer, RangeHawks have already participated in several hypersonic test events in the Pacific and elsewhere,
Northrop Grumman is also managing operations and sustainment of the RQ-4A RangeHawk prototype fleet in partnership with NASA at Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, along with integrating new payloads for the future RQ-4B fleet.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Notes
-
![Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force]()
Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force
It has been more than six weeks since the Irish general election. After long negotiations, a coalition of two of the three largest parties and independents has resulted in a Programme for Government (PfG) which will form the basis of a government almost guaranteed to be formed on 22 January.
-
![Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent]()
Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
-
![UK begins process on new industrial strategy]()
UK begins process on new industrial strategy
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
-
![Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west]()
Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
-
![What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration]()
What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
-
![RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific]()
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
