IOC: 2001
Total Production: 59
Total Program's Cost: USD$9.8 billion
RQ-4B Global Hawk
Maiden Flight: Thursday, March 01, 2007
IOC: 2007
Production: 38
Unitary Cost: USD$68 million
Also Known As:
RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk
Origin:
United States of America
Contractor/s:
Northrop Grumman
Description:
The RQ-4B Global Hawk is an improved model of the proven RQ-4A Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It will be bigger than currently deployed RQ-4A vehicles with 50 percent increase in payload. In addition to Electro-Optical sensors integrated in the RQ-4As, the RQ-4B will be able to accommodate SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) payloads for enhanced ISR capabilities.
The RQ-4B vehicle may accommodate further existing or under development payloads such as the MP-RTIP radar system while retaining A-model performance.
On 12 July 2005, the US Air Force awarded Northrop-Grumman Global Hawk low rate initial production Lot 4 contract valued at $273 million for four RQ-4B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), enhanced sensor suites, one mission control element, one launch recovery element, support equipment and spares. The items delivery was expected to be completed by July 2008.
In November 2005 the US Air Force awarded Northrop-Grumman a $60 million contract to begin production on five RQ-4B Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Systems with vehicles assembly expected to start in early 2006.
Specifications
Accommodation:
Unmanned
Dimensions:
Height 4.6 m , Length 14.5 m , Wingspan 39.9 m
Weights:
Max Weight 11,612 kg (25,600 lb) , Payload 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
Performance:
Ceiling 19,850 m (65,125 ft) , Endurance 36 hours , Max Range 25,000 km (13,499 nm) , Top Speed 175 mps (Mach 0.53)
United States of America / 38 