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UAV provide warfighters a view

AFPN

12/10/2002

by Sue Baker Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs

12/10/02 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- For most of the past year, the Air Force's Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle has supported Operation Enduring Freedom by giving warfighters a precise view of the battle space.

Global Hawk has provided more than 15,000 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance images of potential enemy targets during 50 combat missions surpassing 1,000 flight hours.

"Global Hawk has been an imagery intelligence workhorse for OEF," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John F. Kimmons, director of intelligence for U.S. Central Command. "Its high-altitude and long endurance capabilities have been critical to CENTCOM operations.

Right from the start, Global Hawk's performance has been "highly satisfactory," the general said. "On its first two missions, Global Hawk provided 'actionable intelligence' to support the warfighter mission."

Global Hawk's use in OEF has been an unqualified success, according to Col. Scott Coale, Global Hawk program director at the Aeronautical Systems Center's reconnaissance systems program office here.

"The Global Hawk weapon system has proven its worth as a high-altitude, long-endurance platform -- producing timely, accurate (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) products for theater commanders," Coale said.

Before Sept. 11, 2001, the Global Hawk program office staff was fully focused on the UAV's acquisition and development. All that changed following the terrorist attacks.

"In less than 50 days, hundreds of government and contractor team members totally refocused this program," Coale said. "We took an immature system and fused it into a seamless, operational entity that could deliver time-critical targeting information to warfighters supporting OEF."

Despite the additional workload, the staff also continued to execute traditional development efforts for the UAV, even venturing into novel acquisition territory, according to the colonel.

"We're pioneering a new, evolutionary acquisition approach called 'spiral development' that will put initial Global Hawk capabilities into warfighters' hands sooner than more conventional acquisition methods," Coale said.

The current Global Hawk acquisition strategy calls for six development spirals and 10 production lots, the colonel said.

"We're now in Spiral 2, which will improve the air vehicle's structural and power systems in preparation for greater sensor capabilities delivered in future spirals," Coale said. "This includes an improved wing design and fuselage modifications to increase mission payload capacity to 3,000 pounds. Such changes will allow Global Hawk to meet future systems performance requirements for altitude, range and endurance.

"Spirals 3 and 4 will integrate additional capabilities, such the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program and signals intelligence sensors, as well as provide improved communications functionality," Coale added. "Spirals 5 and 6 will incorporate more performance and reliability improvements and allow for future technology insertion opportunities."

Currently, Global Hawk can fly at more than 65,000 feet, travel 1,200 nautical miles to an operating area and remain there for more than 24 hours before returning to base.

To date, prime contractor Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems of San Diego has delivered six Global Hawks to the Air Force. The seventh and final advanced concept technology platform -- slated for use as a test vehicle to support development and upgrade efforts -- is scheduled for delivery later this month.

While the first production mission control element is scheduled for delivery by August, the first two production Global Hawks are respectively slated for delivery by September and December 2003, Coale said.

"These aircraft will incorporate initial performance improvements -- plus reliability, maintainability and supportability enhancements," Coale said. "They will use the existing integrated sensor suite (electro-optical, infrared and synthetic aperture radar sensors) to provide all-weather, day/night, high-resolution imaging capabilities."

Future production lots will add more payload capacity for a signals intelligence system and upgraded sensors, the colonel said. The final production Global Hawk is scheduled for delivery by 2013