The Air Force last week completed flight tests on the latest version of the Global Hawk UAV. Test personnel at Edwards AFB, Calif., put the Block 10 production UAV through a battery of exercises, covering flying operations and electro-optical, infrared, and synthetic radar sensor function and sensor image quality. Currently, the Global Hawks that have been providing ISR imagery over Iraq and Afghanistan are one-of-a-kind technology demonstrators. Once Air Combat Command gives the OK on the production version, blue-suit maintainers will take over from civilian contractors.
A recent injection of $475 million has reversed delayed delivery timelines for the Pentagon’s hypersonic missile interceptor by several years, Air Force Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, director of the Missile Defense Agency, told congressional leaders in an April 15 hearing.