The RQ-4 Global Hawk recently completed a series of ground and air demonstrations at Beale AFB, Calif., announced Northrop Grumman on April 3. Northrop Grumman worked with the Air Force, at the request of Air Combat Command, to determine whether the remotely piloted aircraft is compatible with different satellite communications links even without changes to the RPA’s hardware, software, or payload, states the release. “This powerful demonstration illustrates Global Hawk’s unique versatility,” said Alfredo Ramirez, director and chief architect of Northrop Grumman’s HALE Enterprise. “We’re ecstatic with Global Hawk’s ability to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance products to operational end-users via multiple paths.” The Jan. 13-15 demonstration showed the Global Hawk is capable of sending mission data through a separate satellite link from the one used for command and control, states the release.
Lockheed Martin plans to enter the Advanced Tactical Trainer fray to supply the Air Force with a new jet to bridge between undergraduate flight instruction and fighter training units, but declined to say whether it will offer a T-50A derivative, a different non-developmental airplane, or a clean-sheet design. It's comments…