NG readies for UAV refueling

Northrop Grumman has flown two Global Hawks in formation under its KQ-X program to develop the concept of air-to-air refueling for unmanned aerial systems. One aircraft in the exercise was equipped with a belly-mounted refueling system. The two aircraft did not make dry contacts or exchange fuel. Under a $33 million deal in 2010 with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Northrop agreed to demonstrate refueling with a pair of Global Hawks the company shares with NASA. (Source: Flightglobal, 08/09/12) Gulf Coast note: Unmanned systems, including Global Hawk, are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. Previous