Vertical Tails Bring First Upgraded Global Hawk Closer to Completion

Posted on: Aug. 29th, 2005 || Source: prnewswire.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Vertical Tails Bring First Upgraded Global Hawk Closer to Completion

MANASSAS, Va., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that it delivered the first set of vertical tails for the new RQ-4B model of the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle to prime contractor Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC). Aurora designed and fabricated tooling for the new aircraft's aft fuselage, fairings, vertical tails and engine nacelle components. The vertical tails complete the delivery of the first ship set of RQ-4B flight hardware built by Aurora. The delivery is a major milestone towards delivering the first RQ-4B, which is expected to make its first flight in 2006.

"The vertical tails and other components in the first RQ-4B ship set were among the first components fabricated in Aurora's brand new, state-of-the-art composites facility," said Aurora Flight Sciences President John Langford.
"The facility was designed in conjunction with MIT's Lean Aerospace Initiative as a showcase for lean aerospace manufacturing processes. The facility helps us streamline our fabrication processes, optimize process efficiencies and
deliver RQ-4B components with the goal of being on-time and on-cost."

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