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DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk)


Unmanned Aerial Refueling Tanker Demonstrator Vehicle


United States | 2012



"Two Northrop Grumman Global Hawk UAVs participated in NASA research regarding UAVs and inflight refuleing."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk) Unmanned Aerial Refueling Tanker Demonstrator Vehicle.
1 x Allison Rolls-Royce AE3007H turbofan engine developing 7,000 lb of thrust.
Propulsion
497 mph
800 kph | 432 kts
Max Speed
65,617 ft
20,000 m | 12 miles
Service Ceiling
15,534 miles
25,000 km | 13,499 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk) Unmanned Aerial Refueling Tanker Demonstrator Vehicle.
0
(UNMANNED)
Crew
44.4 ft
13.54 m
O/A Length
116.2 ft
(35.41 m)
O/A Width
15.2 ft
(4.62 m)
O/A Height
8,488 lb
(3,850 kg)
Empty Weight
22,928 lb
(10,400 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk) Unmanned Aerial Refueling Tanker Demonstrator Vehicle .
None. Only internal fuel stores.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk) family line.
KQ-X - Project Designation; 2 x Northrop Grumman Global Hawk UAVs are being utilized by NASA in the testing.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/04/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

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.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 2 Units

Contractor(s): Northrop Grumman / NASA - USA
National flag of the United States

[ United States ]
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Image of the DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk)

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