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.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told lawmakers Apr. 30 that the service’s biggest airlifter, the C-5 Galaxy, has a 37 percent mission capable rate—one of several challenges facing the mobility fleet.