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The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, DARPA, has awarded a $33 million contract to Northrop Grumman to demonstrate aerial refueling of a NASA Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle by a sister ship. The program is designated KQ-X. Northrop Grumman will retrofit two of the UAVs, one aircraft pumping fuel into the other in flight through a hose-and-drogue refueling system. The refueling will be completely autonomous. The Global Hawks are high-altitude UAVs, and the refueling will take place at a much higher altitude than has been previously demonstrated with manned aircraft. It will also be the first time that high-altitude UAVs have flown in formation. (Source:
Northrop Grumman, 07/01/10) "We're still a long way from unmanned aircraft refueling bombers," said Scott Hamilton, an aviation industry consultant in Issaquah, Wash. "But I wouldn't be surprised to see it go into service in 10 or more years." (Source:
Los Angeles Times, 07/02/10)
Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks built in part in Moss Point, Miss.