By Marina Malenic
The Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) is today scheduled to consider spending authorization for the RQ-4 Global Hawk program, just one week after Air Force officials criticized prime contractor Northrop Grumman [NOC] for the cost and speed of the aerial surveillance drone deliveries.
The review, originally scheduled for January, has been postponed twice. Pentagon officials are expected to consider: Lot 9 Low-Rate-Initial-Production for two Block 30 aircraft, two Block 40 aircraft, five Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) sensors, two enhanced integrated sensor suites (EISS) and two multi-platform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP) sensors; and Lot 10 Long-Lead items for two Block 30 aircraft, two Block 40 aircraft, five ASIP sensors, two EISS and two MP-RTIP sensors.
Last week, a top Pentagon official criticized the program’s cost and tempo. Air Force acquisition executive David Van Buren told reporters that he is “not happy” with the pace of the program, both on the government and the contractor side (Defense Daily, June 21).
The Air Force has said that a Global Hawk “should-cost” review is underway, as directed by an acquisition decision memorandum from the Pentagon’s acquisition, technology and logistics office. The service-led review is intended “to look at air vehicle cost, and to look at each and every one of these sensor packages,” according to Van Buren, and will be completed by September.
In response, Northrop Grumman said that it is committed to responding to Air Force solicitations in a timely manner and streamlining the contracting process to expedite Global Hawk deliveries to theater.
George Guerra, vice president and program manager for Northrop Grumman’s High Altitude, Long Endurance programs, said yesterday that the company is “doing everything in our power to expedite Global Hawk’s enhanced capabilities to the warfighter.
“We are committed to responding to customer requests for proposal within 60 days of receiving their request,” he said in a press statement.
Global Hawk has flown more than 1,665 combat sorties totaling 33,280 combat flight hours since 2001, according to Northrop Grumman. Nine aircraft are currently based at Beale AFB, Calif., and at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The Air Force is conducting test and evaluation of two Global Hawk configurations designed to collect enhanced image and signals intelligence. One aircraft is also soon expected deploy with the ability to serve as a battlefield communications relay.