Global Hawk robot plane to start test flights

Valley Press ^ | Sunday, January 6, 2008.

[BenLurkin]

Aircraft is piloted by computer, set to gather intelligence from 60,000 feet

The latest version of the Global Hawk robot reconnaissance plane is due in February to begin a series of development test flights. The RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30 is designed to carry equipment called the Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP), which detects, identifies and locates enemy radar, radios and other types of electronic and communication signals, according to announcements last week from Edwards and Northrop Grumman.

"Our developmental testing will determine how well the ASIP will collect data and locate radio frequency emitters in the battlefield," Steve Salas, 452nd Flight Test Squadron ASIP Project Manager, said in an announcement on the base Web site.

The aircraft, which is piloted by computers, arrived at Edwards in November after a flight from the Northrop Grumman assembly plant in Palmdale. Northrop Grumman announced last week that the Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload equipment has already begun airborne tests mounted in a Lockheed Martin U-2 reconnaissance plane.

The ASIP sensors will complete flight test on the U-2 in 2007 with operational fielding expected in 2008, Northrop Grumman said. The Global Hawk version of the ASIP sensor will complete flight testing in 2008 and begin production in 2009 with operational fielding expected in late 2012, the company said.

The Global Hawk Block 30 is basically the same aircraft as the earlier Block 20, but is designed to carry the ASIP equipment and its antennas and cabling, Edwards officials said.

"We are very excited to receive the Block 30 aircraft," Bob Giffin, 452nd FLTS Block 30 deputy project manager, said in the Edwards announcement. "We can now start the installation of the ASIP payload and perform about a year of extensive flight testing."

[texas booster]

I am astounded that we have a drone that can exceed the capabilities of the U2 recon jet.

Sure it doesn’t have quite the ceiling or speed of the U2, but the endurance is incredible.

Now to extend the capabilities of the Global Hawk to maybe 80,000 ft.

Wonder if the Russkies still have high altitude missiles that can reach that high? I am sure they do, but it was a real feat to design a missile to reach the U2 in the ‘60s.