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BATTLESPACE visits Northrop Grumman’s UAV facility in San Diego, California, USA.
The first of a two part feature of Northrop’s UAV capabilities. This feature deals with air vehicles, the next feature due to be published in October for AUSA will deal with payloads and technology
“We are currently number three in the defense contractor pecking order after Lockheed Martin and Boeing,” Rick Ludwig told the Editor.
This position is justified by Northrop’s latest figures which show a turnover of $32bn, employing 120,000 people in six Divisions located in 50 U.S. States and 25 countries worldwide.
The six Divisions comprise:
Mission Systems, with a current turnover of $6.6bn. Activities include Command & Control systems, digitization and missile technology.
Space Technology, with a current turnover of $3.1bn. Activities include satellite systems and directed energy weapons.
Information Technology (the former Logicon Group), with a current turnover of $4.5bn. Activities include Federal IT Services and IT Support for Northrop Grumman.
Technical Services, with a current turnover of $2.1bn. Activities include Life cycle support for Northrop and other contractors’ Programmes.
Electronic Systems, with a current turnover of $6.7bn. Activities include radar systems previously handled under the Westinghouse banner and a variety of sensor systems.
Shipbuilding, which now combines the Ingalls and Newport News Yards, with a current turnover of $5.8bn. Activities include fabrication of all nuclear aircraft carriers, 50% of nuclear submarine work and non-nuclear LPD-17 ships and Coastguard cutters.
Integrated Systems, with a current turnover of $5.1bn. Activities include B-2 Bomber Support, J-Stars Support, MP-RTIP radars, Unmanned Systems, E-2D AEW&C aircraft, Tanker operations, Decision Support, Targeting and Mission Planning Systems.
“Given the number of strategic wins by your segment in the past year, is Integrated Systems becoming the power house of Northrop’s growth?” The Editor asked.
“Obviously we would say yes, but our recent wins show how Integrated Systems has become the centre of excellence for unmanned vehicles in the USA and the world. Our management has a stated aim of taking Northrop to the number two of defense contractors and our recent successes certainly show that this can be achieved.”
“We have grown the business considerably over the past two years and now have five buildings alone on this site, whereas two years ago, when you first considered a visit, there were two employing 800 people where we now employ 1800.” Ludwig continued.
Integrated Systems has eight main manufacturing plants:
El Segundo, California, dealing with FA/18 fuselage fabrication and components, Centre of Technology Excellence, ‘Skunk Works’ dealing with advanced technologies and University liaison.
Palmdale, California, the centre of B2 Support as well as Global Hawk and UCAS production. Each B2 comes in every seven years to be stripped and reset with a new stealth skin;
Moss Point, Mississippi., fabrication of Fire Scout and the Global Hawk fuselage.
St. Augustine, Florida, E-2D Hawkeye production;
Lake Charles, Louisiana, J-Stars support;
Bethpage, New York, E2-D Support and BAMS centre;
Melbourne, Florida, J-Stars and tanker centre;
Rancho Bernardo, California, Global Hawk, UCAS, Fire Scout and Targets Development Centre.
Northrop has developed six CWIN linked laboratories able to perform modelling and simulation to develop new products and analyse existing systems. These are based in Melbourne, Rancho Bernardo, Washington D.C., Moss Point and Bethpage.
The company also has facilities at Edwards and Beale AFBs, California, where the hub of Global Hawk operations reside and Pax River, Maryland and PT Mugu, California which tests systems for five customers, UCAS, Fire Scout, Global Hawk, Targets, and E-2.
“How did Northrop Grumman develop this unique UAV capability?” “Northrop Grumman Corporation’s aerial targets legacy stretches back to 1935 when the first subscale target drone, a radio-controlled balsa and plywood air vehicle, was demonstrated in the United States for Army observers. This flight gave birth to the Radioplane Company, which subsequently became the Ventura division of Northrop Grumman.”
“Since then, Northrop Grumman has become the undisputed world leader in the design, development, production, modification and support of high performance subsonic, subscale aerial targets, delivering more than 100,000 aerial targets to all branches of the U.S. military and its allies. Company products are continually evolving to keep pace with advances in the performance of modern aircraft and missile threats. Bolstered by incorporation of the latest developments in supportability, navigation, and guidance and control, Northrop Grumman targets still provide both U.S. and international military customers the ultimate test for weapons systems and personnel.” Ludwig continued
Aerial targets
“Aerial targets are the U.S. Navy’s most realistic means of training sailors and airmen against airborne threats and testing an array of weapon systems, and the avionics upgrades supports the service’s aerial targets transformation plan. Northrop was the major supplier of targeting and drone systems to United States armed forces during the Vietnam War. The BQM-34 Firebee which was the backbone target system which was in use in the three major services, also fulfilled other roles during the war such as ELINT, COMINT, leafleting under ‘Project Litterbug,’ and providing recce missions for for battle damage assessment and targeting. ” said John VanBrabant.
BQM-34 Firebee
The BQM-34 Firebee is highly capable and reliable high performance aerial target system. The primary mission of Firebee is to simulate tactical threats by enemy aircraft and missiles for defense readiness training, air-to-air combat training and the development and evaluation of weapons systems. It can fly as fast as Mach 0.97, at levels as low as 10 feet above the sea surface, or at altitudes as high as 60,000 feet. It is capable of performing sustained seven-g turns while maintaining high airspeeds for realistic threat presentations.
With its high-thrust engine, advanced microprocessor flight control system, rugged airframe, and wide assortment of mission augmentation systems, the BQM-34 Firebee is the premier high performance aerial target system in use today. It can be readily modified to meet other special tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mission needs. Such performance, with the ability to survive the hits and near misses of repeated missions and return to fly again, explains why the Firebee has been in constant use by three American military services for more than five decades. Over 6000 systems have been supplied to the USAF and USN.”
BQM-74E
The BQM-74E is a turbojet-powered aerial target with high performance capabilities. While emulation of enemy anti-ship cruise missiles is the primary mission; others include simulation of aircraft for training naval aviators in air-to-air combat and support of the test and evaluation of new weapon systems. The BQM-74E and its ground support system are highly portable. This attribute enables shipboard operations in support of deployed naval combatants where maximum flexibility and rapid turnaround are required. The BQM-74E can carry a variety of internal and wing tip-mounted payloads in support of mission requirements. Payloads include passive and active radar augmentation, infrared (IR) flares, electronic countermeasures (ECM), seeker simulators, scoring, IFF, and dual wing tip-mounted tow bodies.
“Since 1968, the MQM/BQM-74 series of aerial targets has been the workhorse of the Navy’s subsonic aerial target inventory. Due to its exceptional performance and mission reliability, the BQM-74E has provided over 80 percent of all U.S. Navy target presentations. First introduced in 1966, the BQM-74 series is the mainstay of the Navy’s subsonic, subscale aerial target fleet. The BQM-74E, first fielded by the Navy in 1993, is used to replicate enemy cruise missiles and aircraft for fleet training and to test and evaluate anti-ship and anti-aircraft weapon systems,” VanBrabant continued.
In April, 2005, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $48.2m fixed-price contract to provide BQM-74E aerial target systems to the U.S. Navy. BQM-74E targets delivered under this contract will include upgraded avionics units developed and tested with company funds.
Later, in April, 2007, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $25m contract to purchase 80 BQM-74E Aerial Targets. Seventy-eight targets are designated for the Navy and two for the government of the Netherlands under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The BQM-74Es developed under this contract are scheduled be delivered before January 2009. Over 9000 BQM-74s have been supplied worldwide.
Chukar III
The Chukar III target system includes all of the elements necessary to provide a total training solution. Fielded in eleven countries around the world, the Chukar III is based on the U.S. Navy’s BQM-74 which has been used for more 80 percent of the Navy’s target missions since 1978. With a high degree of operational availability and demonstrated reliability, the Chukar III provides a cost effective system solution unrivalled by other products.
BAMS
On April 22nd the Department of the Navy announced that Northrop Grumman had been awarded the system development and Demonstration (SDD) contract for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS).
“Due to the current protest over the award of the BAMS contract to Northrop in April by Lockheed, we cannot give any detail of the bid, but we can give you an overview of the system” said (See: BATTLESPACE UPDATE Vol.10 ISSUE 16, 24 Apr 2008, U.S NAVY AWARDS NORTHROP GRUMMAN BAMS CONTRACT).
The BAMS UAS contract award is the culmination of a year-long source selection process since the Navy received industry proposals in May 2007. The $1.16bn cost-plus-award-fee contract is to develop a persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data collection and dissemination capability that fulfils the maritime war fighter's requirement for continuous battle-space awareness. The BAMS UAS will be developed using Northrop Grumman's RQ-4N platform.
"This announcement represents the Navy's largest investment in unmanned aircraft systems to date. The extraordinary efforts leading to this announcement have helped the BAMS UAS program begin to develop a persistent ISR capability never before available to the fleet," said Thomas Twomey, manager, Global Hawk. "This is a significant milestone for the BAMS UAS program, concluding a deliberate and meticulous source selection process that adhered to stringent Federal Acquisition Regulation and Naval Air System Command source selection processes and documentation requirements."
The BAMS UAS is an integral part of the maritime patrol and reconnaissance Force. As an adjunct to the P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft, the BAMS UAS will provide persistent maritime and littoral intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to joint forces and fleet commanders worldwide. This capability will enhance battle-space awareness, improve force projection capabilities and protect and defend the fleet and the nation.
The System Development and Demonstration (SDD) Phase includes the design, fabrication, and delivery, of two unmanned aircraft with mission payloads and communications suites; one Forward Operating Base Mission Control System; one Systems Integration Laboratory; and one Main Operating Base Mission Control System. The BAMS UAS will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data collection and dissemination capability to the Fleet. BAMS UAS will deliver capability enabling the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) Family of Systems to meet the Navy's maritime ISR requirements.
X-47B UCAS
On August 1st 2007 the announcement was made that Northrop Grumman has beaten a Boeing team as the Navy’s choice to develop the Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D). The competition to develop the aircraft — also known as N-UCAS, for Navy UCAS — was between Boeing’s X-45N and Northrop Grumman’s X-47B test aircraft. Northrop now will be the prime contractor to build and fly the new aircraft for the demonstration. Both single-engine jet competitors were part of the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) program, which was dissolved early in 2006. J-UCAS, intended to provide an unmanned aircraft for both the Navy and Air Force, was dropped in the Quadrennial Defense Review, which favoured concentrating development on a long-range carrier-based strike aircraft. Boeing’s X-45 was first developed as a land-based aircraft, while Northrop’s X-47 was designed from the outset as a carrier plane — an aspect Northrop felt gave it a leg up on the competition. (See: BATTLESPACE UPDATE Vol.9 ISSUE 31, 02 Aug 2007, Northrop Grumman chosen for UCAS-D)
The X-47B will be a transformational, carrier-capable, multi-mission, unmanned combat air vehicle. Strike fighter-sized, it is a survivable, long range, high endurance and persistent platform capable of a variety of missions including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and Time Sensitive Targeting/Strike.
“Since the cancellation of the A-12 Program, the U.S. Navy has lacked any bomber capability. UCAS was born from the former Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program, the Navy UCAS program will develop a strike fighter-sized unmanned air vehicle that will demonstrate carrier-based launch and recovery in the 2011 timeframe. UCAS will have a twin bomb bay able to carry 4500lbs of ordnance either a number of 250lb Small Diameter Bombs or two J-DAMS. It can fly at 40,000ft and have a range of 2100 Nautical Miles with an endurance of six hours between refuelling. The total weight is 444567lbs with a wing span, which can be folded for carrier use of 64ft.,” said Tighe Parmenter, Manager X-47B Navy UCAS.
“What is the current Flight Test Program?”
“We have already started simulation and have flown the software at Pax River. Flight testing will start in 2009 using an F-18 Hornet base airplane with the UCAS hardware/software package. This will culminate in landing on a Nimitz-Class carrier. The first flight will be in November 09 and the second air vehicle in Jan 2011. The first UCAS is 68% complete with the wings being delivered from our partner GKN Aerospace in September.”
“What is the timescale for these tests?”
“Successful UCAS carrier landing demonstrations will set the stage for a potential full-scale UCAS development effort in support of the Naval Aviation Master Plan, which includes provisions for introduction of a Navy UCAS in the 2020 timeframe.”
“What are the objectives of the UCAS Program?”
“The Objectives of the UCAS program are to demonstrate the technical feasibility of carrier landings with a tail-less, low observable relevant platform prototype to prove the technology to provide the fleet’s aircraft carriers with a long-range pilotless jet strike aircraft.”
“Do you expect a full production contract at the end of the assessment phase?”
“As we have said the current UCAS contract is to demonstrate the technology, we hope that after consideration of the data, the U.S. Navy will follow on with a full Requirement.”
Global Hawk
“What is the current status of the Global Hawk Program” the Editor asked
“Northrop Grumman produced the first seven air vehicles under the advanced concept technology demonstration phase of the program in 2003. Nine Block 10 aircraft have been produced, including the three aircraft supporting the war on terrorism and the two U.S. Navy aircraft operated under the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration program. From that initial order of seven prototypes, we now have six RQ-4Bs, 26 Block 30 SIGINT and 15 Block 40 systems on order. We finished 2007 on a high note, exceeding our previous record by delivering five production aircraft to the U.S. Air Force,” said Thomas Twomey, Director, Global Hawk.
On March 2008 the RQ-4 Global Hawk set an endurance record for a full-scale, operational unmanned aircraft on Saturday, March 22, 2008, when it completed a flight of 33.1 hours at altitudes up to 60,000 feet over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
"The Global Hawk has been performing beyond our expectations and this flight is a testament to the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman's commitment to providing world-class, innovative systems for our military forces. This was the longest mission ever flown by a HALE or MALE (medium-altitude long-endurance) aircraft."
Designated AF-8, the first Global Hawk Block 20, tail no. 04-2015, surpassed both the official and unofficial world un-refuelled endurance records for operational unmanned airplanes previously held by the Block 10 variant.
“Global Hawk is the only unmanned aerial system to meet the military and the Federal Administration Aviation's airworthiness standards and have approval to fly regular flights within U.S. airspace. The system is continuing its operational support having logged more than 17,000 combat flight hours with 95 percent mission effectiveness.”
The U.S. Air Force's desire to expand Global Hawk's role supporting the service's ISR mission launched the development of a more capable and powerful unmanned surveillance system. The first production version of the next-generation Global Hawk, dubbed the Block 20, was unveiled in August 2006 during a ceremony at the company's Antelope Valley Manufacturing Center in Palmdale. In March 2007, the first Block 20 Global Hawk, designated AF-8, successfully completed its first flight from the company's Palmdale facility to the Birk Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The first Block 20 is the 17th Global Hawk air vehicle to be built.
“Where is the main centre for the Global Hawk?”
“Global Hawk is part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing based at its main operating base, Beale Air Force Base, California. In addition, the systems flight test program is conducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base. The program is managed by the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.”
The Block 20 Global Hawk represents a significant increase in capability over the Block 10 configuration. The larger Block 20 aircraft will carry up to 3,000 pounds of internal payload and will operate with two-and-a-half times the power of its predecessor. Its open system architecture, a so-called "plug-and-play" environment, will accommodate new sensors and communication systems as they are developed to help military customers quickly evaluate and adopt new technologies. When fully fueled for flight, the Block 20 variant weighs approximately 32,250 pounds. More than half the system's components are constructed of lightweight, high-strength composite materials, including its wings, wing fairings, empennage, engine cover, engine intake, and three radomes. Its main fuselage is standard aluminum, semi-monocoque construction.
Euro Hawk®
In October 2003, the Air Force demonstrated Global Hawk's capabilities to the German Ministry of Defence (MoD) in northern Germany. Following a ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base, to Nordholz, Germany, a Block 10 Global Hawk equipped with an EADS electronic intelligence (ELINT) sensor prototype performed a series of flight demonstrations over a six-week deployment.
In January 2007, the German MoD awarded a $559 million contract to EuroHawk GmbH, a joint-venture company formed by Northrop Grumman and EADS, for the development, test and support of the Euro Hawk® unmanned signals intelligence (SIGINT) surveillance and reconnaissance system. With a wing span larger than a commercial airliner's, the Euro Hawk® UAS will serve as the German Air Force's HALE SIGINT system.
The Euro Hawk® is a derivative of the Block 20 Global Hawk, equipped with a new SIGINT mission system developed by EADS. The SIGINT system provides stand-off capability to detect ELINT radar emitters and communications intelligence emitters. EADS will also provide the ground stations that will receive and analyze the data from Euro Hawk® as part of an integrated system solution. A joint team will conduct integration and flight test activity in Germany in late 2009.
“Do you expect the NATO AGS Program to go ahead in the current form which requires eight Block 40 Global Hawks equipped with MP-RTIP sensors.”
“Yes, we had a very positive response at ILA last week. The industrial consortium behind the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance system hopes member states still will give the program the formal go-ahead this year. A proposal is to be ready soon for the next phase of the program, which should lead to the fielding of four Global Hawks starting in 2012.”
“Euro Hawk represents your first overseas sale of Global Hawk, is this leading to further overseas sales?”
“Yes, the success of the Euro Hawk Programme has set the tone for unmanned vs manned systems throughout the world. The Australians, in particular, took part in the initial BAMS SDD Program and are now working a Requirement outside BAMS for a maritime surveillance capability protecting their shorelines 24/7. We have already flown a vehicle to Adelaide where it successfully diverted itslef to another airfield when it did not like the landing conditions of the designated field. We warned the next airfield to expect an unannounced visitor!”
“Australia wants to replace its existing P-3 fleet with 8-11 Global Hawks based at RAAF Edinburgh. They require a 32 hour mission to survey 1300 sq. kms. of coastline. Other interested countries are the U.K. which has no firm requirement and Korea.”
Fire Scout
In February 2000, the United States Navy chose the RQ-8A Fire Scout as its vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV). Northrop Grumman of San Diego was awarded an engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract for the Fire Scout, which would provide situational awareness and precision targeting support to the US Navy and Marine Corps. The Fire Scout program is being managed by the US Navy's PMA-266 Unmanned Vehicles Program Office at Patuxent River, Maryland.
Fire Scout entered Low-Rate Initial production (LRIP) in May 2001. The LRIP system includes three air vehicles, two ground control stations, a datalink suite, remote data terminals and modular mission payloads.
In January 2002, the US Department of Defense decided not to allocate funding for Fire Scout after the completion and testing of the LRIP systems. The final LRIP vehicle was delivered in June 2003. Shipboard testing during August and September 2003, onboard Austin Class LPD (Landing Platform Dock) USS Denver included take-off and landings using the common automatic recovery system and the Raytheon tactical control system.
In September 2003, an enhanced version of Fire Scout, MQ-8B, was chosen for the Class IV-A brigade level UAV element of the US Army’s Future Combat System (FCS). The SDD (System Development and Demonstration) contract was awarded in January 2004 and requires the production of seven air vehicles. The MQ-8B has a four-bladed rotor, increased payload capacity to 270kg and more than eight-hour endurance with a 90kg payload.
The payload includes Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) and target designation capability. In March 2004, the US Navy placed a contract with Northrop Grumman for the development of the MQ-8B Fire Scout for deployment on the new Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). Nine air vehicles are to be produced under the system development and demonstration (SDD) contract, to complete in 2008. MQ-8B entered Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) in May 2007. Technical evaluation is scheduled to begin in autumn 2008 and Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) in spring, 2009.
“Is everything on track to fly Fire Scout with the Army and Navy?” the Editor asked Rick Ludwig, Director Business Development, Unmanned Systems.
“Things are moving forward for Fire Scout, but due to a slip in the LCS development schedule, the USN will conduct OPEVAL and initial deployment on board an alternative air-capable FFG US Navy vessel. The Army FCS Program has also been delayed due to hold up on the JTRS radio Program,” Ludwig said.
MQ-8B air vehicles are common for the US Army and Navy but the payload differs. Baseline payload for the USN includes the FLIR Systems BriteStar II with electro-optical and infrared sensors and a laser range finder/designator.
In January 2006, Northrop Grumman received the first MQ-8B airframe from
Schweizer. The first flight of the MQ-8B was in December 2006, at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. There are 15 MQ-8B on order for the US Army and nine for the Navy.
“What about weapons installation?”
“We are carrying out a weapons integration programme which includes the installation of two four-packs of 2.75in rocket launchers on the air vehicle. The launchers are designed to fire advanced precision kill weapon system laser-guided rockets. In July 2005, Fire Scout successfully fired two 2.75in Mk66 unguided rockets. We see ship defence against small boats as a particular capability.”
“We are also developing Fire Scout for a number of C4I operations such as the COBRA, Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance capability. We are also developing Fire Scout for the ASTAMIDS mine warfare system, also developed by Northrop. In March 2006, we participated in a program called Beyond Line-of-Sight Tactical UAV Communications Relay (BTCR), Fire Scout successfully demonstrated that a tactical UAV can be used to enable over-the-horizon communications relay, allowing ground troops on the move and battlefield commanders to share uninterrupted voice, data and real-time video.”
“Are you continuing to develop Fire Scout for uses outside the US Requirements?”
“Yes, we are building our own demonstrator and Ground Station which we will take round the world to demonstrate Fire Scout. We will be testing a Telephonics radar on that vehicle later this year”
“Who do you expect to be your launch export customer?”
“Obviously the world is watching and waiting on the U.S. Programs, but we expect Japan to be one of the first customers. Other potential customers include the U.K., Spain, Germany, Egypt, UAE, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Italy and Denmark.”
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