Northrop to begin South Korea Global Hawk production
Northrop Grumman will start production of RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the South Korean Air Force, the company announced on 2 February.
The air force ordered four Global Hawks from Northrop in a contract awarded on 16 December 2014. The UAS will provide wide-area intelligence gathering capabilities to the country's military commanders.
Northrop will work closely with the US Air Force for delivery of the UAS, which is scheduled to begin in 2018.
Mary Petryszyn, vice president, international, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, said: 'The system will be a vital link in South Korea's increasing leadership role in defending the peninsula.'
She added: 'It represents the first time a Global Hawk has been sold to an allied nation in the Asia-Pacific region under the foreign military sales process.'
The contract also covers two ground stations and supporting equipment for the South Korean air force's operators to maintain and control the UAS.
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