NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, California, has awarded a multi-year contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation of San Diego for engineering and technical maintenance services in support of the center’s operation of two Global Hawk aircraft on Earth science missions.
The sole-source requirements contract covers a five-year period running from July 10, 2014 through July 9, 2019, and has a potential value not to exceed $25 million. The new contract follows a similar engineering and technical support pact that expired last August.
The new contract supports NASA Armstrong’s continued operation of the two aircraft, their associated ground control stations and related systems. The terms require Northrop Grumman to perform and assist in design analysis, systems engineering, simulation support, hardware and software development, subsystem testing, on-site field services, operations and logistics support, pilot and maintenance crew training. It also requires that Northrop Grumman furnish aircraft operational support equipment and spare parts when they are not available from government sources.
NASA Armstrong is flying the autonomously operated unmanned aircraft for missions supporting NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and the Earth science community that need the Global Hawk’s high-altitude, long-endurance, long-distance airborne capability.
NASA’s two operational Global Hawks were originally pre-production Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration aircraft that were transferred to NASA Armstrong when they were no longer required by the U.S. Air Force. They were modified to be able to perform a variety of Earth science missions.
For more information about NASA’s use of the Global Hawk, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-098-DFRC.html
For more about NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong
Beth Hagenauer
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
(661) 276-7960
beth.hagenauer@nasa.gov