Northrop Grumman announced Tuesday that it has submitted its proposal for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance system. Northrop leads the transatlantic industry team chosen by NATO to supply the system. The contract award is anticipated in October. Matt Copija, Northrop’s AGS program director, said the system will be “a critical component of the NATO Response Force,” giving alliance members “continuous ground situational awareness” so that they may “minimize the need to put forces in harm’s way without foreknowledge.” AGS features Northrop’s RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40 aircraft equipped with the MP-RTIP radar, mobile and transportable ground stations, and a mission operation support center located at NATO’s main Global Hawk operating base in Sigonella, Italy. (For background, see Update on NATO AGS from the Daily Report archive.)
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…