The Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV is now cleared for acquisition. The Defense Acquisition Executive has granted Milestone C approval, the final step before acquisition can proceed.
Northrop Grumman, the UAV’s maker, said the system had to achieve “a predetermined level of software maturity and the ability to demonstrate operational interoperability with other relevant systems” in order to be approved.
“The most important date in any acquisition program is the day you get a new and needed capability into our warfighters’ hands,” said Mick Jaggers, Global Hawk director for Northrop Grumman. “We have proven that we can successfully take systems like this through Milestone C and into full-rate production, even in times of war.”
