NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance
Program OverviewAfter many years exploring options for a NATO owned and operated airborne ground surveillance capability, 13 of the 28 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) signed a Program Memorandum of Understanding (PMoU) in September 2009. They agreed to fund the development phase of a program of record with an airborne segment based on the Block 40 RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor.
Northrop Grumman is the principal manufacturer of today's operational fleet of national manned and unmanned surveillance and command and control aircraft, including the U.S. E-8C Joint STARS, RQ-4 Global Hawk HALE UAS, and the MP-RTIP sensor.
Unmanned Fleet
The choice of the RQ-4, equipped with the MP-RTIP sensor, for the NATO AGS air segment reflects the basic operational requirements of the AGS program. The performance parameters of the RQ-4 are unmatched, with the ability to fly at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours at speeds approaching 340 knots, well above airspace occupied by commercial traffic. Moreover, the RQ-4 has the ability to be deployed 2,000 nautical miles from its main operating base with a resulting on-station time exceeding 24 hours, thus ensuring a ready capability for worldwide operations and providing incomparable operational capabilities.
Additionally, the RQ-4 is an operationally proven ground surveillance platform accumulating more tens of thousands of flying hours in operations supporting coalition forces in current theaters of operation. The choice of the MP-RTIP sensor provides a low-risk, low-cost approach for NATO.
System Architecture
The system architecture and the configuration of the NATO AGS ground segment is especially developed to accommodate a network centric approach, with emphasis on a local area network design and real-time exchange of data between AGS users. Also, the use of standardization will ensure system interoperability, not only with the NATO C3I systems, but also national ISR systems. Through the AGS ground segment, NATO forces will also have access to nationally acquired reconnaissance and surveillance data.
The unmanned platform configuration and its inherent identification capability and a network centric approach, represents a capability that could perform NATO missions fully independently during peacetime and early crisis. The AGS system will provide real-time data, intelligence, and even target identification to NATO users within and beyond line of sight.
This solution demonstrates a truly transatlantic approach to NATO's requirements and will provide significant work share directly in the program for national industries of participating nations.
Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the NATO AGS program based at its Melbourne, Fla., facility. Its industrial team includes EADS, Selex Galileo, and Kongsberg. The NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Management Agency (NAGSMA), which was chartered to acquire the NATO-owned and operated core capability, is responsible for the procurement of the NATO AGS capability until it has reached full operational capability.
Specifications
Wingspan: 130.9 ft (39.9 m)
Length: 47.6 ft (14.5m)
Height: 15.4 ft (4.7 m)
Gross Takeoff Weight: 32,250 lbs (14,628 kg)
Maximum Altitude: 60,000 ft (18.3 km)
Payload: 3,000 lbs (1,360 kg)
Ferry Range: 12,300 nm (22,780 km)
Loiter Velocity: 310 knots TAS (True Air Speed)
On-Station Endurance at 1,200 nm: 24 hours
Maximum Endurance: 32+ hours
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