SAN DIEGO, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air
Force RQ-4 Global Hawk high altitude, long endurance autonomous
unmanned aircraft system (UAS) successfully completed Milestone C
approval from the Defense Acquisition Executive. For the
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)-built Global Hawk program,
Milestone C is a key incremental step in the Department of
Defense's acquisition process that enables the program to move
forward with modernization activity.
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The UAS achieved a predetermined level of software maturity and
the ability to demonstrate operational interoperability with other
relevant systems prior to Milestone C approval. Global Hawk
maintains estimated costs within cost caps and has full program
funding for the length of the Future Years Defense Program. The
Milestone Decision Authority approved Global Hawk's updated
Acquisition Strategy and Acquisition Program Baseline.
The UAS was still in development in 2001 when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States created a greater need for
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Responding, Global Hawk quickly deployed into theatre where the
system remains in support of worldwide Combatant Command
operations.
"The most important date in any acquisition program is the day
you get a new and needed capability into our warfighter's hands,"
said Mick Jaggers, director, Global
Hawk, Northrop Grumman. "We have proven that we can successfully
take systems like this through Milestone C and into full-rate
production, even in times of war."
"It is true testament to the U.S. Air Force and the Global Hawk
industry team that we have been able to effectively support the
warfighter for over a decade with a variety of sensor payload
capabilities," Jaggers added. "In working with the Air Force, we
seek to fly a variety of additional payloads within size, weight,
power and communication parameters."
Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk industry team includes ATK,
Aurora, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, GE Aviation, United
Technologies - Goodrich, Harris, Honeywell, L-3 Communications,
Macrolink, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, Sierra Nevada Corporation and
Triumph Aerostructures.
Global Hawk variants have flown more than 150,000 flight hours
in support of antiterrorism, antipiracy, humanitarian assistance,
disaster relief, airborne communications relay and
information-sharing missions.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation