Northrop Grumman to demonstrate aerial refuelling Two Global Hawk UAVs

The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a $33 million (Rs 154 crore) contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to demonstrate aerial refueling of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by a sister ship. The programme will be designated KQ-X.

Northrop Grumman will retrofit two of the high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAVs, one aircraft pumping fuel into the other in flight through a hose-and-drogue refueling system. The aerial refueling engagement will be completely autonomous.

Carl Johnson, vice president, Advanced Concepts for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems said, “Demonstrating the refueling of one UAV by another is a historic milestone. It adds aerial refueling to the list of capabilities that can be accomplished autonomously by Global Hawks, it opens the door to greatly expanded operational utility for UAVs and it promises to increase the safety and reliability of aerial refueling between manned aircraft by reducing pilot workload.”

Not only will the aerial refueling be autonomous, but since Global Hawks are HALE UAVs, it will also take place at a much higher altitude than has been previously demonstrated with manned aircraft. It will also be the first time that HALE UAVs would have flown in formation.