Northrop Grumman's effort to prepare its RQ-4 Global Hawk to fly a new slate of sensors in the absence of Lockheed Martin's U-2 will continue, despite the Air Force's decision not to retire the U-2 in fiscal year 2019.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Rachel Cohen was managing editor for Inside the Air Force until January 2019. She previously covered the public health insurance marketplaces for Inside Health Policy and primary, secondary and higher education at the Frederick News-Post in Frederick County, Maryland. She graduated from American University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in international studies and journalism.
Northrop Grumman's effort to prepare its RQ-4 Global Hawk to fly a new slate of sensors in the absence of Lockheed Martin's U-2 will continue, despite the Air Force's decision not to retire the U-2 in fiscal year 2019.
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The Government Accountability Office earlier this month dismissed Northrop Grumman's bid protest alleging the Air Force unfairly chose BAE Systems to install radio frequency countermeasures equipment onto AC-130J and MC-130J aircraft, saying the company's arguments had no merit.
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The Air Force's first three enlisted airmen to train as remotely piloted aircraft operators graduated from their program May 5, and now head to another course to qualify to fly the RQ-4 Global Hawk.
Northrop Grumman last week won a nearly $40 million contract to build another Global Hawk equipped to work with the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node system, designated the EQ-4B, according to Federal Business Opportunities.