Raytheon says the company has delivered the first full production Integrated Sensor Suite for the USAF’s RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. The full production suite includes synthetic aperture radar and electro-optical/infrared hi-resolution imaging capability in a single sensor system for the high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The near real-time imagery capability of the aircraft has been in high demand in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Raytheon is wrapping up the Lot 2 initial production program for the upgraded model.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
