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.
NEWS: A digest of aerospace, defense and technology news from the Gulf Coast I-10 region
Friday, July 2, 2010
Robot tanker project funded
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.
