First NATO AGS aircraft arrives in Italy
The first NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft has arrived in Italy where it will be based at the AGS Main Operating Base.
The AGS programme is being developed with contributions from 15 nations, including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the US.
The AGS programme will include five NATO RQ-4D RPAS, which will provide a collectively owned capability for NATO operations and missions. All Allies will have access to data acquired by AGS, and will benefit from the intelligence derived from the surveillance and reconnaissance missions that AGS will undertake.
The RQ-4D is based on the US Air Force block 40 Global Hawk. Along with ground elements, it has been designed to meet NATO’s ISR requirements.
All five RPAS are currently in different stages of developmental testing. Once each of the aircraft arrives at the Main Operating Base in Sigonella, a verification phase will start, in order to ensure full compliance of the system.
The entire AGS system will be handed over to the NATO AGS Force once it has completed all its testing and performance verification. Initial operational capability is expected for the first half of 2020.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Navantia, SAES and Perseo to jointly develop line of uncrewed underwater vehicles]()
Navantia, SAES and Perseo to jointly develop line of uncrewed underwater vehicles
At FEINDEF in Madrid, Navantia, SAES and Perseo announced an intention to develop a line of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).
-
![British Army eyes new small armed UAS capability]()
British Army eyes new small armed UAS capability
The UK MoD has released a request for information on small armed UAS which could be used by the British Army.
-
![General Atomics delivers first new build extended range MQ-9A to US Marine Corps]()
General Atomics delivers first new build extended range MQ-9A to US Marine Corps
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has delivered the first new build MQ-9 Extended Range (ER) to the US Marine Corps (USMC).
-
![Highway landing opens door to future MQ-9 Reaper capabilities]()
Highway landing opens door to future MQ-9 Reaper capabilities
The US has landed an MQ-9 Reaper UAV on a highway for the first time as part of Exercise Agile Chariot.
-
![SOF Week 2023: AeroVironment introduces VTOL kit for Puma AE UAS (video)]()
SOF Week 2023: AeroVironment introduces VTOL kit for Puma AE UAS (video)
AeroVironment has introduced the Puma VTOL kit, designed for plug-and-play integration into Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE small uncrewed aircraft systems.
