Vought Delivers First Enhanced Wing for RQ-4B Global Hawk

Posted on: Aug. 12th, 2005 || Source: home.businesswire.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. delivered its first enhanced wing to prime contractor Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) on July 21 for the U.S. Air Force RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV). This wing was successfully tested to 100 percent limit load on May 20.

The enhanced wing is one of a number of system improvements Northrop Grumman is making to increase Global Hawk's capability. The improved UAV will accommodate a larger payload while maintaining current platform performance specifications.

Vought's work scope includes design development, fabrication, assembly and structural testing of the new wing. The company is currently scheduled to build seven production wings for the new RQ-4B model, with options for future production lots of the new wing configuration. Vought has built two RQ-4B prototype wings and is producing another article for testing ultimate loads. For the RQ-4A model, Vought built two prototype and nine production wings under its Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract with Northrop Grumman.

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