Vought Aircraft Industries,
DALLAS: Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. delivered its first enhanced wing to prime contractor Northrop Grumman on July 21 for the U.S. Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV). This wing was successfully tested to 100 percent limit load on May 20.
The enhanced wing is one of a number of system improvements Northrop Grumman is making to increase Global Hawk's capability. The improved UAV will accommodate a larger payload while maintaining current platform performance specifications. dt
Vought's work scope includes design development, fabrication, assembly and structural testing of the new wing. The company is currently scheduled to build seven production wings for the new RQ-4B model, with options for future production lots of the new wing configuration. Vought has built two RQ-4B prototype wings and is producing another article for testing ultimate loads. For the RQ-4A model, Vought built two prototype and nine production wings under its Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract with Northrop Grumman.
“Building the Global Hawk wing is incredibly rewarding for us,” said Erich Smith, Vought's senior vice president, program management and business development. “We're proud to be a support partner to Northrop Grumman on this successful UAV program.”
Global Hawk has completed more than 200 missions and logged over 4,300 flight hours in the Global War on Terrorism. It began flying missions over Afghanistan in 2001, playing a key role in supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Global Hawk enhances the U.S. military's ability to prevail in all types of operations, from sensitive peacekeeping missions to full-scale combat.
Vought uses commercially available graphite and epoxy materials, including a high modulus unidirectional tape, in the fabrication of the RQ-4B wing. The new wing is 130.9 feet long, weighs about 4,000 pounds and is the longest wing ever delivered from Vought's Dallas facility. The company also builds wings for the Gulfstream 550/500 and 350/450 business jets; wing panels for the Citation X business jet; large wing components for the Airbus A319/320 and A330/340 airplanes; the center wing section for the Boeing 767; inboard wing flaps for the Boeing 777; lower wing skins for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; wing panels for Northrop Grumman's EA-6B and E-2C military aircraft; wing components for Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III transport; and wing skins for the Embraer 170/190 regional jets.
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. is one of the world's largest independent suppliers of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, the company designs and manufactures major airframe structures such as wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has annual sales in excess of $1.2 billion and more than 6,000 employees in seven U.S. locations.
