NATO gets an improved Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix reconnaissance drone

Northrop Grumman has improved the RQ-4D Phoenix unmanned aerial vehicle and handed it over to the Alliance.

Here's What We Know

The drone, call sign NATO14, arrived at Sigonella Air Base in Italy on Sept. 17 after a 21-hour flight. The RQ-4D Phoenix upgrade involved installing software and hardware to operate in sea mode.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Clark said the new sensor significantly enhances NATO's surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities. The sensor allows information to be gathered with greater efficiency.

Phoenix will track vessels and identify targets that are not in contact with the military. To do this, the drone is equipped with a naval reverse synthetic aperture radar. The radar system expands the Alliance's information-gathering capabilities.

Five Northrop Grumman drones are deployed at the Italian Air Force base. The upgraded drone will soon be integrated into the current schedule, and the remaining UAVs will go to the U.S. to undergo upgrades. The U.S. Air Force has allocated $13 million to the company for this purpose.

Source: Defense Brief

Image: The Aviationist