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.

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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

Service Year

2012

Origin

United States

Status

IN-DEVELOPMENT
Program in Progress.

Crew

0
UNMANNED

Production

2
UNITS

Northrop Grumman / NASA - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Aerial Refueling (Tanker)
Dedicated or converted airframe used to deliver fuel to awaiting allied aircraft.

✓ X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.

✓ Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.

Length

44.4 ft
(13.54 m)

Width/Span

116.2 ft
(35.41 m)

Height

15.2 ft
(4.62 m)

Empty Wgt

8,488 lb
(3,850 kg)

MTOW

22,928 lb
(10,400 kg)

Wgt Diff

+14,440 lb
(+6,550 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk) production variant)

Installed: 1 x Allison Rolls-Royce AE3007H turbofan engine developing 7,000 lb of thrust.

Max Speed

497 mph
(800 kph | 432 kts)

Ceiling

65,617 ft
(20,000 m | 12 mi)

Range

15,534 mi
(25,000 km | 46,300 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk) production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None. Only internal fuel stores.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft external fuel tank

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

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

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