CANBERRA, Australia,
May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/
-- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is
collaborating with the Royal Melbourne
Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, to study
airworthiness requirements for operating unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) in Australia.
The collaboration involves developing solutions for safely and
efficiently operating UAS in all airspace environments with a
particular focus on larger systems the size of small commercial
jets.
"As a producer of large-scale unmanned aircraft systems, our
goal is not only to provide the aircraft, but also to understand
fully the Australian government's needs to certify them for
operation," said Ian Irving, chief
executive for Northrop Grumman Australia. "We're extremely excited
to work with RMIT University because of their leadership in the
development of innovative approaches to civil and military airspace
regulatory reform and air vehicle certification."
Northrop Grumman has 70 years' experience producing unmanned
vehicles and has delivered more than 100,000 unmanned aircraft
systems to military customers in the U.S. and around the world.
Reece Clothier, from RMIT's Sir
Lawrence Wackett Aerospace Research Centre, said, "Northrop Grumman
is a leading provider of high-altitude unmanned aircraft systems
that will provide a transformative capability to the Australian
Defence Force [ADF]. In collaboration with Northrop Grumman and the
ADF, we will help establish a plan for bringing this unique
capability into service."
In 2001, a Global Hawk UAS became the first unmanned, powered
aircraft to cross the Pacific Ocean in a flight of more than
23-hour duration from Southern
California to Adelaide.
Global Hawk is also the first UAS to achieve U.S. military
airworthiness certification, along with a certificate of
authorization from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration,
recognizing the system for its ability to routinely fly within
national airspace.
About RMIT
RMIT is a global university of technology and design and
Australia's largest tertiary
institution. RMIT's Sir Lawrence Wackett Aerospace Research Centre
is also the largest research centre dedicated to aerospace in
Australia, with broad expertise in
the design, manufacture and certification of advanced aerospace
systems.
About Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cybersecurity, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government
and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation