First Military Airworthiness Certification Awarded to UAV

Released on Monday, February 13, 2006

Northrop Grumman Corporation's RQ-4A Global Hawk reconnaissance system is the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to achieve a military airworthiness certification. This certification, along with the Certificate of Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration, recognizes Global Hawk's ability to routinely fly within national airspace.

Global Hawk's military airworthiness was certified January 25, 2006, by the US Air Force. In granting the certificate, the Air Force determined that the Global Hawk system has a proven track record of safe and reliable operations.

This airworthiness certification covers all five production RQ-4A Global Hawk vehicles delivered to the Air Force thus far and outweighs civilian experimental airworthiness certifications that have been granted to other UAVs. The military airworthiness certification process is very rigorous and has taken 3 years and 77,000 man-hours to achieve. This is a continuous process that will be maintained through the life of the aircraft, similar to that for all manned aircraft.

To receive the COA from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Northrop Grumman worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration to define airspace requirements for UAVs.

The airworthiness certification process for the new RQ-4B Global Hawk has begun and is expected to be completed by late 2007. The larger RQ-4B Global Hawk will carry fifty percent more payload than the current RQ-4A Global Hawk. First flight for the RQ-4B is planned later this year.