, MUNICH: The German Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a EUR 430 million contract to EuroHawk GmbH, a joint venture company formed by EADS and Northrop Grumman Corporation, for the development, test and support of the Euro Hawk unmanned signals intelligence (SIGINT) surveillance and reconnaissance system.
The Euro Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a Northrop Grumman-produced US Air Force RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk derivative equipped with a new SIGINT mission system developed by EADS. The SIGINT system provides stand-off capability to detect electronic intelligence (ELINT) radar emitters and communications intelligence (COMINT) emitters. EADS will also provide the ground stations that will receive and analyse the data from Euro Hawk as part of an integrated system solution for the German customer.
Delivery of the first demonstrator is scheduled for 2010. Planned delivery of the following four UAVs is scheduled between 2011 and 2014. The Euro Hawk systems will replace the aging fleet of Breguet Atlantic aircraft, which have been in service since 1972.
Stefan Zoller, Member of the EADS Executive Committee for Defence & Security Systems, welcomed the German Budget Committee approval: “This decision is a further step forward in our transatlantic cooperation. With Euro Hawk the German Air Force will be able to cover its own future reconnaissance requirement with ground breaking technology, thus enabling the German Air Force to assume control of its intelligence activities. This gained information superiority is a decisive contribution towards improving the safety of our troops in the field. Furthermore, Euro Hawk is convincing proof of how the Bundeswehr is transforming and acquiring network enhanced capabilities. With this project being realized, UAV technology takes a remarkable step forward in Europe.”
The Head of the Military Air Systems Business Unit, Johann Heitzmann, stressed: “Our most important aim will be to deliver Euro Hawk in top quality and on time to our customer. Through the first-class technology of this reconnaissance system, the German Air Force will be even more able to fulfil its mission in the future.”
Scott J. Seymour, President of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector, added: “This programme has been a major collaborative effort and Northrop Grumman is committed to ensuring Euro Hawk is a continued success story in the history of transatlantic cooperation.
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