Northrop Grumman announced this week that it has received a $90 million contract from the Air Force to integrate the radar onto the high-altitude Global Hawk UAV. Testing on the pod that will house the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program synthetic aperture radar began in April on board the Proteus test aircraft. The contract will include integration of the radar into the Global Hawk system, including the air vehicle and ground stations, and will be completed in September 2009.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…