Article Posted on : - Feb 05, 2015

SAN DIEGO (BNS): Northrop Grumman has announced that it will start producing the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems for the Republic of Korea's Air Force.

The US defence major had received a contract in December 2014 for four Global Hawk UAVs, two ground stations and supporting equipment for the ROKAF.

The company will work closely with the US Air Force to deliver the systems starting in 2018.

"This is a significant achievement for Northrop Grumman because it represents the first time a Global Hawk has been sold to an allied nation in the Asia-Pacific region under the Foreign Military Sales process," said Mary Petryszyn.

The contract announcement follows significant procurement decisions made by the Japanese and Australian governments to purchase the Global Hawk and the MQ-4C Triton - comprising Northrop Grumman's family of high-altitude, long-endurance UAS.