Australia brings HALE UAV project forward by a year

Source URL: http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/03/07/Navigation/177/205343/Australia+brings+HALE+UAV+project+forward+by+a+year.html
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/1214

Australia will, over the next three months, consider proposals for initial funding for Phase I of it's "Project Air 7000", a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) multi-mission maritime unmanned air vehicle.

The US Pacific Command has proposed a common regional "pool" of Global Hawks for Australia, Japan and Singapore. The UAV's will then be shared between the participating countries, including Thailand and the US itself, and will be based in Guam. The countries are currently considering this proposal.

Last November we reported Northrop Grumman was aiming to overturn weapon sale restrictions, in order to secure US government approval to export its RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle to Southeast Asia.

Last year, South Korea had also expressed its interest in the Global Hawk vehicle, however, worried about the possibility strategic technology could leak, the US turned down the bid.

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