DARPA KQ-X (Global Hawk)

History

KQ-X is the name of a program commissioned by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to designate a pair of existing NASA Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk drones, Used to study autonomous aerial refueling practices and modify feasibility. Northrop Grumman was awarded a $33 million contract for project requirements, including installation of hoses and drogue units, with a Global Hawk serving as a An aerial tanker, while another Global Hawk became the target aircraft for refueling. The benefits of such a procedure are obvious, as it allows the drone design to operate completely autonomously without human interaction.

It is estimated that additional aerial refueling with Global Hawk drones could extend the product's uninterrupted flight time by a week.

In August 2012, it was announced that the pair of "Global Hawks" had completed a close formation flight. These flights took place in May 2012.

Unlike the usual arrangement of hoses and sleeving fuel delivery systems currently used by fixed-wing aircraft (where the receiving aircraft follows the tanker), the KQ-X is planned to use the receiving aircraft ahead of and above the trailing tanker, with the hose lowered to the holding tank. on the tanker. The tanker was identified by its proboscis probe, which is used to collect sensitive mission data.

During the test, the duo was guided through all possible close positions.

Phase 2 testing has been suspended as the Global Hawk returns to NASA specifications for the upcoming hurricane season. After October, the Global Hawk will revert to KQ-X configuration for additional Phase 2 testing.

Specification

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Performance

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