Japan secures Global Hawks and eyes Avengers

21st November 2018 - 08:31 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong

RSS

Tokyo has committed money as part of its order of three RQ-4 Global Hawk HALE UAVs, with the US DoD announcing on 19 November an FMS contract worth $489,924,430 for Northrop Grumman.

The DoD’s website listed Japan’s acquisition as Block 30(I) aircraft, with ‘I’ denoting international. It said each UAV for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will contain an ‘enhanced integrated sensor suite payload’.

While this latest announcement does not discuss what specific sensors are included, it is expected to be Raytheon’s Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) comprising an EO/IR sensor, synthetic aperture radar and ground moving …

Want to read more?

To read this article, along with thousands of others like it, start your Premium News free trial.

Start Trial or log in here

More from Unmanned Vehicles

Teledyne FLIR launches ION M640x tactical UAS

Teledyne FLIR has added a new UAS type to its product line.
AUSA 2021: UVision reveals its new HERO Multi-Canister Launcher

UVision has introduced its new Hero Multi-Canister Launcher during the 2021 AUSA annual meeting.
AUSA 2021: Textron makes the cut for FTUAS downselect

As the US Army's Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) programme ramps up, Textron has revealed it plans on scaling up the company's Aerosonde HQ in a bid to outdo competitors and support future needs of the service.
New Turkish UAV engine unveiled

TEI's PD-222ST turbodiesel targets weight reduction and higher take-off power. First flight is due on a Baykar TB-3 or AKINCI airframe.
France completes Patroller tactical UAV tests

The French DGA and Safran have finished Patroller UAV flight tests over Finland.
DSEI 2021: Blue Bear emphasises swarm control

UK SME Blue Bear has put a 20-drone swarm through its paces.