NATO getting Global Hawks

NATO broke a nearly two decade logjam and agreed to jointly fund operations of an airborne ground- surveillance system that includes five Northrop Grumman Block 40 Global Hawks. The 28-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization approved a plan this week for all members to pay for support and operations, according to a statement Friday. The Alliance Ground Surveillance project, which is scheduled to come into use from 2015, will have its main base at Sigonella, Italy, and several associated command-and-control base stations. Virginia-based Northrop is the prime contractor. The drone is powered by Rolls-Royce engines. (Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, 02/03/12) Previous post