Global Hawk Update
Air Force Gives Block 30 Global Hawk Another Year - UPDATED
[UPDATED with Lt. Gen. James comment] WASHINGTON: Northrop Grumman is in talks with the the Air Force to keep the service's 18 "Block 30" Global Hawks flying through at least September 2013, AOL Defense has learned. That's a win for Northrop and its backers in Congress over Air Force budgeteers who wanted to ground the long-range drones.
The service's 2013 budget plan would have mothballed the Block 30 variant of the Global Hawk to save money, arguing that the venerable U-2 spyplane could better meet theater commanders' needs for reconnaissance. (Other Global Hawk variants with different capabilities, Block 20 and Block 40, were never in question). That idea was resoundingly rejected by Congress -- and quietly questioned by some in the military who appreciated the Block 30's capabilities, including much longer flight times than any manned aircraft could endure. So, in his confirmation hearings, new Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told Senators that the drones would continue to operate. But Northrop Grumman's existing contract to support Block 30 operations around the world was set to expire at the end of this month.
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