US Air Force orders three new RQ-4 Global Hawk

Northrop Grumman is to build three new RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS for the US Air Force under a $354 million contract announced on 15 September. The order will bring the air force’s RQ-4 fleet size to 37 in 2017.

The primarily firm-fixed-price contract also includes retrofit kits to add Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) sensors into two of the existing RQ-4, providing them with Multi-INT capability. ASIP is an advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) collection sensor also built by Northrop Grumman.

Global Hawk operates multiple sensors simultaneously to gather ISR data. The new aircraft will also have Multi-INT ASIP sensors, and will collect multiple types of intelligence from high altitudes for up to 32 hours at a time.

The ASIP retrofit kits are scheduled for delivery in late 2016 and in 2017.

Mick Jaggers, Global Hawk program manager, Northrop Grumman, said: ‘Northrop Grumman is proud that the RQ-4 Global Hawk has become an indispensable ISR resource for the air force. These new systems will provide further opportunities to keep our warfighters safe.

‘Even as Global Hawk flight hours increase each year, we are striving to reduce the overall operating cost of the system for the air force. The air force's commitment to putting more Global Hawks in the air and our dedication to meeting affordability agreements for production and sustainment ensure that this vital asset will remain sustainable and viable for many years.’

The different variants of Global Hawk have flown more than 126,000 flight hours supporting diverse global missions. Carrying a variety of ISR sensor and communications gateway payloads, Global Hawk supports antiterrorism, antipiracy, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, airborne communications relay, information-sharing and the full range of operational combat missions.

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RQ-4 Global Hawk