Teledyne Ryan's Global Hawk long endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) is poised to make aviation history in early 2001 with a non-stop flight from Edwards AFB in California to Australia, to support a trials programme funded by the Australian Defence Force.
Australia will contribute $A30 million ($18.7 million) to Global Hawk development under a government-to-government agreement finalised with the USA during the Australian Air Show at Avalon in mid-February.
The agreement paves the way for Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) researchers to collaborate with the US Air Force and prime contractor Teledyne Ryan on enhancing the sensor systems, particularly its synthetic aperture radar, for maritime surveillance roles. "Global Hawk has the potential to significantly enhance Australia's ability to monitor our territory and maritime approaches," says Australian defence minister John Moore.
The 2001 trials will explore the Global Hawk's effectiveness for surveillance of Australia's northern maritime approaches.
Trial plans envisage the Global Hawk operating in conjunction with an experimental command and control architecture developed by the DSTO, supporting a layered surveillance system covering areas of up to 300km2 (116 miles2).
Australia is considering buying up to six Global Hawk systems to provide a strategic surveillance capability linked with its Jindalee over the horizon radar, maritime patrol aircraft and planned acquisition of up to seven airborne early warning and control aircraft.
One operational scenario released by the DSTO suggests: "Global Hawk could transit from Adelaide, South Australia, to the Torres Strait or Broome, Western Australia.
"It would stay on station to provide real-time surveillance data, covering an area twice the size of Tasmania by direct radio transmission or satellite link to an Australian-designed ground station for more than 24h."
Source: Flight International
