MS-177 sensor flies on Global Hawk

Flight testing of the MS-177 sensor on the RQ-4 Global Hawk has begun at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, California facility, the company announced on 1 March.

This is the first time the sensor has flown on a high altitude long endurance UAS, and testing will continue through the first half of 2017.

The MS-177 sensor is designed to provide capabilities to not only 'find' targets using broad area search and different sensing technologies, but to also fix, track, and assess targets through its agility and multiple sensing modalities.

The testing follows the integration of two new sensors on Global Hawk, including the SYERS-2 intelligence gathering sensor and the Optical Bar Camera in 2016. The payloads are being integrated as part of proposals to boost the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of Global Hawk and fill impending capability gaps when the manned U-2 aircraft is retired from service at the end of the decade.

Mick Jaggers, vice president and program manager, Global Hawk program, Northrop Grumman, said: 'The MS-177 is the new benchmark in imaging ISR sensors and its integration into the Global Hawk platform expands the mission capability we can provide.

'This successful flight is another milestone in an aggressive effort to demonstrate Global Hawk's versatility and effectiveness in carrying a variety of sensor payloads and support establishing OMS compliancy.'

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RQ-4 Global Hawk