Northrop Grumman says it is “actively pursuing” options to develop a multi-platform radar technology insertion program radar with USAF, which had to end MP-RTIP development when it cancelled the E-10 program for lack of money. The Air Force has continued to work a reduced version for employment on the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. However, a Northrop release says that it is offering a Wide Area Surveillance MP-RTIP radar for use on the E-8 Joint STARS surveillance aircraft. It says Congress is interested in the effort as a cruise missile defense capability.
The Air Force is leaning toward a less-sophisticated autonomous aircraft in the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the services chief futurist said. He also suggested that the next increment of CCA may be air-launched, a la the "Rapid Dragon" experiments conducted by the service in recent years.