EuroHawk - Germany’s first HALE unmanned reconnaissance aircraft

07:55 GMT, October 29, 2009 defpro.com | As part of the current defpro.focus, “Taking UAVs to the Next Level” (see http://www.defpro.com/focus/profile/uav/), we would like to pick up a special event that occurred in early October: On the 8th of this month, the roll-out of the first EuroHawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to be delivered to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) was celebrated in Palmdale, California. Flying at great altitudes and for long periods, systems such as the EuroHawk, generally designated as HALE UAS (High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems) require comprehensive competencies with the Industry. Therefore, the procurement programme for this unmanned reconnaissance platform represents successful transatlantic co-operation between Northrop Grumman Corporation and EADS Defence & Security (DS) which both possess unique industrial skills in the field of unmanned aircraft.

For ten years, the business line Military Air Systems of EADS DS developed innovative concepts for UAS which enabled the use of unmanned platforms (tactical UAS and mini UAVs such as TRACKER, unmanned electronic warfare platforms, MALE [Medium Altitude Long Endurance] and UAS (such as the EAGLE 1/SIDM) in the extended operations area. Furthermore, these new concepts will allow a systematic connection to the programmes of partner nations to replace obsolete and cost-intensive systems without creating additional capability gaps, as can be seen from the example of the TALARION reconnaissance platform which was demonstrated this summer.

According to EADS DS, unmanned system operations will increasingly include missions, such as Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance (ISTAR) combined with Automatic Target Recognition (ATR). These mission profiles will require new mission payloads such as, for instance, SIGINT (COMINT, ELINT) systems, sensors such as Infra-red Linescanner (IRLS), and radar sensors with synthetic aperture for detecting and tracking moving targets in all weather conditions.

The version of the EuroHawk, based upon the proven HALE platform RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk, will be equipped with a novel system for signal intelligence developed by EADS DS. Due to its aerodynamic characteristics, the unmanned reconnaissance platform has an endurance of up to 35 hours. Having a wing span comparable to that of the Airbus A310 of the Luftwaffe VIP-unit, the EuroHawk will be an interoperable, modular and cost-effective replacement for the ageing BR-1150 ATL SIGINT reconnaissance aircraft which has been operated by the Bundeswehr for more than three decades and has been deployed to many operations abroad.

Following the transfer of the first aircraft to Germany in 2010 and further trials, additional EuroHawks may be delivered to the Bundeswehr between 2016 and 2017. On 31 January 2007 the German Ministry of Defence awarded the EuroHawk GmbH – a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and EADS – in a contract valued at €430 million for the development, testing and support of the SIGINT aircraft. Within an integrated system solution, EADS DS also delivers a ground station for the reception and transmission of the reconnaissance data collected by the EuroHawk. Heinz-Jürgen Rommel, CEO of the EuroHawk GmbH, emphasised that the EuroHawk GmbH will additionally carry out aircraft modifications, delivery of the ground segments for the take-off, mission execution and return flight control, carry out trials and provide logistical support. The company will be the general contractor throughout the service life of the EuroHawk systems with the German Air Force.


First international version of the proven HALE UAS goes to Germany

The EuroHawk SIGINT unmanned system will provide the Bundeswehr with the capability to detect electronic signals and transmitters from great distances. Nicolas Chamussy, vice president of EADS DS Mission Air Systems, said that due to the extraordinary partnership with Northrop Grumman, the Bundeswehr would now be able to independently meet their requirement for the detection and evaluation of SIGINT data and, thereby, significantly contribute to the peace-keeping missions of NATO, the EU and the United Nations.

Brigadier Hermann Muntz, Head of the Air Force Armament and deputy commander of the Weapon System Command of the Luftwaffe (WaSysLw) who attended the roll-out in California as the representative of the German Air Force, emphasised that the introduction of the EuroHawk HALE UAS is an important milestone in a new era for the Luftwaffe in the field of unmanned aviation. Today’s and tomorrow’s scenarios for airborne reconnaissance require high altitudes and long mission periods combined with the capability to transmit the collected reconnaissance information in near to real-time to the ground station during the mission. According to Brigadier Hermann Muntz, these requirements will be met by this novel reconnaissance platform.


Based with the Reconnaissance Squadron 51 in Jagel, Germany

The procurement of five UAS for the Luftwaffe was initiated after the first test flights and a successful landing following a 20-hour transatlantic flight of a Global Hawk demonstrator carried out six years ago in Nordholz, Germany. After six years of joint development work, the transfer of the first operational system to Germany, after further trials in California, is scheduled for the autumn of 2010. Subsequently, the aircraft will be fitted with the SIGINT module and further sensors are to be developed by EADS DS in In Manching.

The nationally developed SIGINT mission system is an essential component of the platform and consists of a COMINT and an ELINT subsystem as well as an integrated SIGINT system (ISI) manager. The SIGINT sensor, which is based on state-of-the-art digital antenna technology, will provide the Bundeswehr with a substantial reconnaissance capability. It will assist in detecting and analysing electro-magnetic emissions and in reducing the search time for all frequency ranges that may be used by potential opponents. This national capability could be provided by the Bundeswehr to complement the planned NATO AGS Core Capability.

After the SIGINT equipment is installed by the Industry and the aircraft have been handed over to the Luftwaffe, the EuroHawk will be based with Reconnaissance Squadron 51 “Immelmann” in Jagel (northern Germany). The airbase has already been prepared for the operation and logistical support of the unmanned aircraft. In future reconnaissance missions, the HALE UAS will operate at altitudes of approximately 19 kilometres and will make longer flights than do civilian passenger aircraft. The first German UAS pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Stephan Mehl, has already been trained at the Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. Additional UAS pilots, as well as technical personnel, will receive training at Beale during the next year.


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By Stefan Nitschke, Publisher of the German-language “Newsletter Verteidigung” of the GDM Information Group (www.gdm-verlag.de/).

(The original German text has been translated by Nicolas von Kospoth)


This article is part of the defpro.focus “Taking UAVs to the Next Level” which can be accessed here: http://www.defpro.com/focus/profile/uav/.