Global Hawk Contracts, New Office in North Dakota

The Pentagon announced May 18 that Northrop Grumman has received three contracts for RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle work, totaling more than $600 million. And, May 19, Northrop announced it would open an office in Grand Forks, N.D., to support assignment of RQ-4 operations to Grand Forks Air Force Base. The new contracts cover two Block 30 and two Block 40 air vehicles; two in-line airborne signals intelligence payloads (ASIP) and three ASIP retrofit kits; and advance procurement funds for vehicles, ASIPs, two multi-platform radar technology insertion program sensors, and other items. Earlier this week, Northrop received a $50 million contract for an interim repair line for the Global Hawk. Along with opening its new Grand Forks office, Northrop plans to present a $25,000 grant to the University of North Dakota, the first school to offer a bachelor’s degree in unmanned aircraft system operations.