Three countries eye Global Hawk

Northrop Grumman is in talks about selling its high-altitude surveillance drones in Europe, with Britain, Germany and Norway seen as the likeliest customers, a top executive said Wednesday. A $1.7 billion contract the company signed with NATO for a five-drone surveillance and intelligence system in 2012 will help boost European sales, according to Andrew Tyler, Northrop's UK and European chief. It will let Europe get familiar with the UAV's capabilities, said Tyler. Germany is already familiar with it. Northrop remains in long-running talks with the country about a stalled $1.6 billion purchase of four Euro Hawks, which Northrop developed with Europe's Airbus based on the Global Hawk design. (Source: Reuters, 08/20/14) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. Previous: NATO Global Hawk fuselage done; Germany axes Global Hawk; Euro Hawk sets record