http://flightinternational.com/Articles/2005/09/06/Navigation/177/201340/Singapore+eyes+Global+Hawk+UAV.html
Singapore eyes Global Hawk UAV
Island state interested in airborne early warning RQ-4 development
to expand surveillance capabilities
Singapore received a formal briefing from the USA on the Northrop
Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle late last month as it
looks to improve its airborne early warning (AEW) and signals
intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities.
Industry sources say Singapore is interested in a Global Hawk
variant modified to conduct high-altitude, long-endurance AEW and
airborne ground surveillance missions, and that this could
potentially include indigenous sensor and battle management
systems.
Singapore currently operates four Northrop E-2C Hawkeyes on AEW
missions, but has in recent years been looking at a mix of new
platforms for delivery from 2007-8, including Gulfstream G550
business jets equipped with AEW and SIGINT mission systems supplied
by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Sources say Singapore confidentially committed to the G550-based
solution several years ago, but also seeks long-endurance UAVs to
meet its future requirements, although an acquisition is not
imminent.
In 2002 the country began talks with EADS on collaborating on a new
medium- to high-altitude, long-endurance UAV derived from the
Euromale programme as a solution to its proposed low-altitude,
long-endurance UAV requirement.
But the status of this collaboration remains unclear, and Singapore
has also held talks with General Atomics on systems such as the
Predator. An upgraded Global Hawk modified for the AEW mission
would be an ideal complement to the proposed lower-tier system, and
Northrop is already working to increase the RQ-4s payload to
1,360kg (3,000lb), which should make the modifications sought by
Singapore feasible.
Securing US government approval for a Global Hawk sale is also
thought possible because Singapore is not a member of the Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which restricts the sale of UAVs
that could deliver weapons of mass destruction. A South Korean
request for information on the Global Hawk is unlikely to be
approved because Seoul has signed the MTCR agreement.
