First NATO AGS Global Hawk UAV rolled out

Northrop Grumman and its industry partners together with NATO leaders unveiled the first of NATO’s five Alliance Ground Surveillance (AG...

Northrop Grumman and its industry partners together with NATO leaders unveiled the first of NATO’s five Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft to an audience of customers, distinguished guests, employees and community leaders, rolled off the factory line in San Diego on Thursday, 4 June.

The Northrop Grumman Global Hawk Block 40 unmanned aircraft, part of the AGS program, will enable the Alliance to perform persistent surveillance over wide areas from high-altitude long-endurance aircraft in any weather or light condition, expanding NATO's joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability . The system will give commanders a comprehensive picture of the situation on the ground.

The NATO-owned and operated program comprises five air vehicles and fixed, mobile and transportable ground stations. Northrop Grumman's primary industrial team includes Airbus Defence and Space (Germany), Selex ES (Italy) and Kongsberg (Norway), as well as leading defense companies from all participating countries.

The AGS system is being acquired by 15 Allies (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States).

The industries of the 15 participating nations (Bulgaria,Czech Republic, Denmark,Estonia,Germany,Italy,Latvia,Lithuania,Luxembourg,Norway,Poland,Romania,Slovakia,Sloveniaandthe United States), are each contributing to the delivery of the AGS system. All 28 Alliance nations will take part in the long-term support of the program.

With the ability to fly for up to 30 hours at a time, the high-altitude long-endurance system will provide NATO leaders with persistent global situational awareness. The aircraft is equipped with leading-edge technology, including the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor.

The MP-RTIP will provide critical data to commanders during operations in any weather, day or night. The NATO AGS system will also be able to fuse sensor data, continuously detect and track moving objects and provide detailed imagery.

AGS is scheduled to reach initial operational capability by the end of 2017. The air vehicles will be controlled from the main operating centre in Sigonella, Italy.