Phoenix is ready to rise, says NATO
IOC represents a significant milestone towards improved ISR for the NATO alliance.
The RQ-4D Phoenix Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft from Northrop Grumman is ready to conduct operational missions for NATO, the alliance announced on 15 February.
‘IOC represents a culmination of collective efforts across several international organisations. Since its inception each group has played a crucial role to take NATO AGS from concept to reality,’ said NATO AGS Force Commander Brig Gen Houston Cantwell.
He added: ‘This also demonstrates NATO’s commitment to our collective defence and our commitment to developing cutting-edge technologies and information dominance over our adversaries.’
The NATO AGS RQ-4D design is based on the Global Hawk UAS. Five of the new UAVs are based at Sigonella Air Base in Italy.
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