U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft...
U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 19, 2015.
The Government of Japan has requested a possible sale oF 3 RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawk Remotely Piloted Aircraft with Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) including 8 Kearfott Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) units.
Also included with this request are operational-level sensor and aircraft test equipment, ground support equipment, operational flight test support, communications equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 will significantly enhance Japan’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and help ensure that Japan is able to continue to monitor and deter regional threats.
The purchaser requested offsets but at this time agreements are undetermined and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractor.
The Global hawk will provide Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) with near real time high resolution imagery, all day and night in all weather conditions. It provides broadveiw surveillance using AESA technology based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and long-range electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors.
With a gross weight around 15 ton, the RQ-4 can reach a maximum altitude of 18.3 km (60,000 ft) with a payload of 1360 kg. With a astonishing ferry range of 22,780 km the Global Hawk can continuously fly for 32 hours.
The 130.9 ft (39.9 m) wingspan enables a loiter velocity of 310 knots and is powered by a single Rolls Royce F137 turbofan engine rated at 34 kN thrust.
It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles of terrain a day. The aircraft is presently not armed.
