NATO's AGS conducts test flight
NATO's first Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) UAS has successfully completed a range of test points during a flight from Palmdale, California, to Edwards Air Force Base, the company announced on 19 December.
The flight marks the beginning of the AGS programme’s flight test period.
The Global Hawk UAS derivative forms the aerial component of the NATO AGS. The UAS will perform all-weather, persistent wide-area terrestrial and maritime surveillance in support of NATO missions such as protection of ground troops and civilian populations, border control, maritime safety and humanitarian assistance.
The aircraft is equipped with the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor. This sensor will allow the AGS to fuse sensor data, continuously detect and track moving objects and provide imagery of selected objects.
NATO AGS will be based in Sigonella, Italy. The first aircraft will arrive there in 2016.
The AGS system includes five aircraft and mobile ground stations. The ground stations will provide data link connectivity, data processing and exploitation capabilities to multiple deployed and non-deployed operational users.
The system is being procured by 15 NATO nations; following acquisition, NATO AGS will become a 28 alliance nation fully-owned and operated NATO capability.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
