Global Hawk conducts test flight in Palmdale
Photo from Edwards Air Force Base website
Global Hawk conducts test flight in Palmdale – On July 15, a modified version of an unmanned reconnaissance vehicle called the Global Hawk was tested at Northrup-Grumman’s manufacturing facility.
It sort of looks like a bulky version of the Predator – that other unmanned vehicle that regularly wreaks havoc on Taliban forces in Afghanistan. The modifications to the Global Hawk were on its communications module, which is that bulge on the head of the aircraft.
The Global Hawk isn’t new. It actually flew a number of combat missions in Iraq. While it only flew 3 percent of recon missions during Operation Iraqi freedom, it returned an astounding 55 percent of the data! Now that’s impressive. One Global Hawk detected 13 surface-to-air missiles, 50 SAM launchers, 300 canisters, and 70 missile transporters. It also imaged 300 Iraqi tanks – which consisted at that time of 38 percent of Iraq’s armored forces. (Information from spyflight.co.uk)
If it did so well during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I wonder what sort of capabilities it will have now, with its new enhanced communications system. The earlier versions of the aircraft looked a lot sleeker and skinnier. That big brain in the head houses a satellite system that can process images from beyond line-of-sight to satellite systems, thus putting the battlefield into real time for the men and women in uniform.
The advantage of something like this for our troops vs. a Third World country’s troops are ridiculous, of course.
Great shot. I have seen a lot of crazy looking planes over the years living in the Antelope Valley and this is no exception.