TSAMTO, September 3. The US Department of Defense announced the signing of an additional contract by the US Air Force Command with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems as part of the program for the supply of RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude UAVs to the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea.
The value of the agreement signed under the Foreign Military Sales program is $ 39.852 million. The contract provides for the joint development, testing and integration of the Mode 5 software for the Global Hawk UAV of the Republic of Korea and Japan. The work will be carried out in San Diego, and the integration will be performed at the Misawa Air Bases (Japan) and Sacheon (Republic of Korea). It is expected that the main works will be completed by July 31, 2023.
As reported by TSAMTO, Japan announced the choice of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV for equipping the Self-Defense Forces at the end of 2014. In November 2015, the US State Department approved the supply of 3 RQ-4 Block UAVs to Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program.30 (I) Global Hawk, related equipment, spare parts and services worth up to $ 1.2 billion.
In October 2017, the US Defense Ministry signed the first contract with Northrop Grumman worth $ 130.469 million for the purchase of equipment with long production times for the production of the RQ-4 Block UAV.30 (I) "Global Hawk" intended for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
Flight tests of the first RQ-4 began in April 2021, the second-in June 2021. As planned, the UAVs will enter service with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces by 2022.
Delivery of 4 RQ-4 Block UAVs to the Republic of Korea within the framework of the "Foreign Military Sales" program.30 (I) Global Hawk, as well as related services and equipment in the amount of up to $ 1.2 billion. The US State Department approved it in December 2012. The first contract under the project was signed with Northrop Grumman in December 2014.
The first UAV is the RQ-4B Unit.30 " Global Hawk "was delivered to the Republic of Korea in December 2019, the fourth – in September 2020.
