Global Hawk UAV Prepares for Maritime Role (updated)

Global Hawk UAV Prepares for Maritime Role (updated)

Global Hawk UAV Prepares for Maritime Role (updated)

Posted 02-Dec-2005 05:00

Related stories: Americas - USA, Coastal & Littoral, Delivery & Task Orders, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Sensors - Aquatic, Testing & Evaluation, UAVs
Also on this day: 02-Dec-2005 �
AIR_UAV_RQ-4_Global_Hawk_Cutaway.jpg
Global Hawk Cutaway
(click to view full)

Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV has established a dominant position in the High Altitude/ Long Endurance UAV market. While they aren't cheap - GlobalSecurity.org notes that these UAVs cost about $48 million with a full sensor suite, or about $70 million each if development costs are included - they are uniquely capable. During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the system flew only 5% of the US Air Force's high altitude reconnaissance sorties, but accounted for more than 55% of the time-sensitive targeting imagery generated to support strike missions. The RQ-4 Global Hawk is also a leading contender in the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAV competition, and will be used in a maritime surveillance role by Australia.

The Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program aims to use the proven RQ-4 Global Hawk airframe as a test bed for operational concepts and technologies that will eventually find their way into BAMS, and contribute valuable operational concepts regarding UAVs in a maritime surveillance role. Contracts under this effort have included:
RQ-4A Global Hawk
RQ-4A Global Hawk

Unless otherwise specified, Northrop Grumman Corp. in San Diego, CA is the recipient and contracts come under The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD.

Feb 5/03: $185.2 million cost-plus-award-fee using an undefinitized-contract-action contract modification. Provides for engineering and manufacturing development activities in support of the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration. Further funds will be obligated as individual delivery orders are issued, and work will be complete by September 2006 (F33657-01-C-4600, P00020).

May 2/03: Raytheon Co. in Falls Church, VA receives a $5 million not-to-exceed order against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement N00019-02-G-0350 for requirements development and initial design of the Block 3 Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) data control processor, data link controls and payload processing. The contract also includes preparation of an engineering plan to integrate this system into existing ships. The TCS will provide a single unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mission planning, command and control, data processing and dissemination system for operation of a whole range of UAV types. Work will be performed in Falls Church, VA (80%), and Rancho Bernardo, CA (20%), and is expected to be complete in December 2003.

Sept 20/05: $27.1 million not-to-exceed delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-05-G-0009) for the procurement of initial spares in support of the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program. Work on this contract will be performed in San Diego, CA (46%); El Segundo, CA (28%); Salt Lake City, UT (19%); Indianapolis, IN (4%); and Falls Church, VA (3%); and is expected to be complete in September 2007.

Nov 30/05: $10.5 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-05-C-0057). It exercises an option for operations and maintenance support of the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD), including operation and sustainment, logistics support and sustaining engineering throughout the demonstration. Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (79%) and Patuxent River, MD (21%), and is expected to be completed in November 2006.
P-8 MMA Concept
P-8A MMA Concept
(click to view full)

DID has covered the P-3C Orion's replacements, including the P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft and BAMS. A recent interview with Rear Adm. Michael L. Holmes even indicated that a significant portion of the P-3 Orion and EP-3 Aries' roles would fall to BAMS.

See all DID articles related to the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

(Originally puvlished Sept 22/05)
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