UAV FOCUS

摘要

NATO HAS started training flights with the Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAV as part of its Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme. The initial sortie from Sigonella Air Base on Sicily lasted just over nine hours, with the aircraft controlled by NATO AGS Force (NAGSF) pilots stationed in the NAGSF Operations Centre at the same location. A NATO statement said: "During the flight, the Phoenix's sensors collected synthetic aperture radar imagery and moving target information data which was transferred to the NAGSF processing, exploitation and dissemination centre for near real-time processing, and future distribution to allies." The NATO AGS concept is based around five RQ-4D aircraft with ground control stations in mobile and transportable configurations providing datalink connectivity, data processing and exploitation capabilities. The ground element provides the interface between the RQ-4Ds and command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across NATO. The RQ-4D Phoenix is derived from the US Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40 UAV and adapted to NATO requirements. The aircraft is equipped with Northrop Grumman's Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program active electronically scanned array radar. It also features an extensive suite of line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight wideband data links, a ground moving target indicator, synthetic aperture radar, air track, concurrent moving target indication, cued search and ground high-resolution radar modes.