Northrop Grumman announced this week that it has received a $90 million contract from the Air Force to integrate the radar onto the high-altitude Global Hawk UAV. Testing on the pod that will house the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program synthetic aperture radar began in April on board the Proteus test aircraft. The contract will include integration of the radar into the Global Hawk system, including the air vehicle and ground stations, and will be completed in September 2009.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.