Northrop Grumman unveils Euro Hawk®

  • Published
  • By Diane Betzler
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Calling it the European eyes in the skies, Northrop Grumman and Germany's EADS Defence and Security-- together unveiled Germany's first unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, the Euro Hawk®.

The Northrop Grumman-built aircraft, which looks a lot like its American cousin, the Global Hawk, is a flying testament that looks are only skin deep. Germany's Euro Hawk®, although modeled after the RQ-4 Global Hawk, will be equipped with its own intelligence system that was developed by Germany's Defence & Security.

Germany's Euro Hawk® is expected to be a safeguard against any challenges that country may need to deal with for a long time to come, and on Oct. 8 made its debut when American and German officials together hosted a rollout ceremony at Northrop Grumman's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif.

"To see the Euro Hawk® is something special," said Rudiger Knopfel, a German Ministry of Defence officer. "It's somewhat strange, as a pilot, to see an aircraft that doesn't need a pilot on board," Knopfel said, obviously respectful of his country's newest addition to its Air Force inventory.

Approximately 300 people attended the unveiling ceremony that was hosted by Northrop officials and officials from the German Air Force and MoD to celebrate the success of Northrop Grumman's first transatlantic cooperation with Germany and its MoD.
"This Euro Hawk® is testament to great collaboration between two companies, two countries and many, many people," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president and general manager of the Strike and Surveillance Systems Division for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector.

Dufresne said the EuroHawk GmbH team has set a fine precedent for international relations.

He said that this year not only marks the unveiling of the Euro Hawk®, but it calls attention to two anniversaries that remind us we're part of an unfolding story.
"Sixty years ago Europe was ravished by the war and the future was uncertain," he reminded everyone, "But in those dark times there were people who realized that transatlantic cooperation would ensure prosperity and world peace."
Dufresne pointed out that next month marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall and said the end of the Cold War was the beginning of the unification process for Germany.

Dufresne warned, however, that despite those milestones, the world remains a dangerous place that faces a complex set of challenges and sited nuclear proliferation, international terrorism, drug trafficking and cyber security as some of the threats facing the world today. Threats, he said, that know no boundaries.

"They are not American, European or Asian problems, they are global problems," he said.

Dufresne said solving those problems won't be easy, and said cooperation and collaboration between allies is essential and said America has a strong ally in Germany and a strong teammate in EADS.

Knopfel, a chief test pilot for the Armed Forces of Germany, agreed with Dufresne and said information is the backbone for the security and safety of a nation, "It's the key to significant mission preparation and combat," he said.

Knopfel said with the Euro Hawk®, Germany is armed with an excellent tool to deal with all the challenges ahead, and thanked Northrop Grumman for its amazing contribution.
"The rollout we celebrate today is an important milestone for the future development of the Euro Hawk®," he said.

General Hermann Muntz, director of German Air Force Armaments and deputy commander for the German Air Force Weapon Systems Command, said the rollout marks the first introduction of the new Euro Hawk® and said the aircraft gives the German Air Force new capabilities.

He said the aircraft is expected to remain at Edwards Air Force Base for the next two years where it will undergo continuous flight testing. The Euro Hawk® is expected to be transferred to the German Air Force in 2011 and Gen. Muntz said that is when the German Air Force personnel will get actual hands on experience with the airplane.
The Euro Hawk® will be equipped with a signal intelligence mission system that was developed by Germany's Defence & Security. A ground station consisting of a mission control and launch and recovery elements will be provided by Northrop Grumman.
The German Defence & Security will also provide a SIGNT ground station, which will receive and analyze the data from Euro Hawk® as part of an integrated system solution which will be developed and tested by EuroHawk GmbH.

Col. Volker Saueressig, division chief IMINT for Strategic Reconnaissance Command said the Euro Hawk® program is an excellent example of transcontinental cooperation.
"We are all very excited to welcome this wonderful bird to Germany," Saueressig said.
Dufresne said globalization is a reality; he said fair and open competition is ultimately best for everyone and ends up offering the best value and best solution for the U.S. and its allies.

"We at Northrop Grumman are committed to programs like Euro Hawk®. Euro Hawk® is a precursor of things to come," he said.