Northrop Grumman and EADS roll out Germany’s Euro Hawk

Edwards Air Force Base, Calif: American defence contractor, Northrop Grumman and Germany's EADS Defence & Security have together unveiled Germany's first unmanned reconnaissance aircraft - the Euro Hawk. Dubbed the European 'Eyes in the Skies,' the Northrop Grumman-built aircraft, resembles its American cousin, the Global Hawk.

The Euro Hawk, though modelled after the RQ-4 Global Hawk, will be equipped with its own intelligence system developed by EADS Defence & Security.

The roll-out took place on 8 October at a ceremony at Northrop Grumman's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif.

General Hermann Muntz, director of the German air force, Luftwaffe's Armaments and deputy commander for the Luftwaffe's Weapon Systems Command, said the rollout would provide the Luftwaffe new capabilities.

According to Gen Muntz, the aircraft is expected to remain at Edwards Air Force Base for the next two years where it will undergo continuous flight testing. It will eventually be transferred to the German Air Force in 2011 when Luftwaffe personnel will first get actual hands on experience with the airplane.

The Euro Hawk will be equipped with a signal intelligence mission system developed by EADS Defence & Security. A ground station consisting of a mission control and launch and recovery elements will be provided by Northrop Grumman.

EADS will also provide a SIGINT ground station, which will receive and analyze data from Euro Hawk, as part of an integrated system solution which will be developed and tested by EuroHawk GmbH.