The US Army has requested a price quote to conduct an endurance upgrade to part of its fleet of around 50 Northrop Grumman RQ-5 Hunter unmanned air vehicles next year, the company says. The upgrade package is based on Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) E-Hunter configuration, which adds a wing extension kit that improves endurance to 30h with a 1,090kg (2,400lb) payload, says Northrop business development director Doug Valenzuela. The army's desired upgrade package also would integrate the aircraft into Northrop's One Common Ground Station.
The army's intelligence branch purchased an E-Hunter prototype several years ago, but has not publicised any subsequent flight tests. Recently, the asset was transferred to the army's Aviation and Missile Command, which partnered with Northrop to restore the aircraft to flying status. The manufacturer says a first flight was conducted on 17 March, which included the UAV's integration with the Hunter common ground station.
The army has set aside an initial budget of $4.5 million, which Valenzuela says would likely pay to upgrade about three or four Hunter air vehicles to the E-Hunter standard, although Northrop hopes to eventually conduct the work on the army's entire Hunter fleet.
Northrop has interpreted the army's interest in the E-Hunter as a gapfiller until the arrival of its future Extended-Range/Multi-Purpose UAV fleet. The company is contesting the requirement offering the Hunter II, a development of IAI's Heron platform, but faces competition from a Lockheed Martin/General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Warrior bid, which is based on the latter company's MQ-9 Predator. A downselect decision is expected early next month.
STEOHEN TRIMBLE/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
