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Aviation / Aerospace

DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk)


Unmanned Aerial Refueling Tanker Demonstrator Vehicle [ 2012 ]



Two Northrop Grumman Global Hawk UAVs participated in NASA research regarding UAVs and inflight refuleing.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/04/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
KQ-X is a program designation commissioned by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) of the United States to modify a pair of existing NASA Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles for research into Autonomous Aerial Refueling practices and feasibility. A $33 million contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman for the program requirements which have involved installation of a hose-and-drogue assembly arrangement in which one Global Hawk would act as the aerial refueling tanker whilst the other Global Hawk would become the target aircraft to be refueled. The benefits of such a program are obvious, allowing for completely autonomous function of a UAV design without any required human interaction. It is estimated that the addition of in-flight refueling with Global Hawk UAVs could add as much as one week of uninterrupted flight for the product.

In August of 2012, it was announced that the pair of Global Hawks had completed a close-formation flight. The flights were undertaken back in May of 2012. Contrary to the normal arrangement of the hose-and-drogue fuel delivery system currently in use by fixed-wing aircraft (in which the receiving aircraft tailed the refueler), the KQ-X program is utilizing a receiver aircraft situated ahead and above the trailing tanker, the hose being lowered to the awaiting tanker. The tanker aircraft was identified by its long nose probe used in collecting sensitive mission data. The twin aircraft were put through all manner of close-ranged positions in the testing.

The second phase of testing has since been placed on hold as the Global Hawks were reverted back to NASA specifications for the upcoming hurricane season. Post-October, the Global Hawks will be reverted once again back to the KQ-X configuration for additional testing concerning Phase 2.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Northrop Grumman / NASA - USA
Manufacturer(s)
United States
Operators National flag of the United States
2012
Service Year
United States
National Origin
In-Development
Project Status
0
(UNMANNED)
Crew
2
Units


AERIAL REFUELING
Dedicated or converted airframe used to deliver fuel to awaiting allied aircraft.
X-PLANE
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
UNMANNED
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.


44.4 ft
(13.54 meters)
Length
116.2 ft
(35.41 meters)
Width/Span
15.2 ft
(4.62 meters)
Height
8,488 lb
(3,850 kilograms)
Empty Weight
22,928 lb
(10,400 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight
+14,440 lb
(+6,550 kg)
Weight Difference


1 x Allison Rolls-Royce AE3007H turbofan engine developing 7,000 lb of thrust.
Propulsion
497 mph
(800 kph | 432 knots)
Max Speed
65,617 ft
(20,000 m | 12 miles)
Ceiling
15,534 miles
(25,000 km | 13,499 nm)
Range


MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


None. Only internal fuel stores.


KQ-X - Project Designation; 2 x Northrop Grumman Global Hawk UAVs are being utilized by NASA in the testing.


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