Northrop Grumman to produce surveillance drones for Japan under $130 million contract

Northrop Grumman was awarded a $130.5 million contract for three Global Hawk surveillance drones intended for Japan, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a press release.

“Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, San Diego, California, has been awarded a $130,469,576 undefinitized contract for the Japan Global Hawk program,” the release said on Thursday, October 5.

“This contract includes long lead material to initiate the program for three global hawk block 30 (I) air vehicles, two ground control elements, enhanced integrated sensor suite, spares, and a site survey,” the Defense Department added.

The production of the drones will be performed in San Diego, California. The work is expected to be completed by July 27, 2018.

According Northrop Grumman, Global Hawks are designed to gather near-real-time, high-resolution imagery in all types of weather, both day and night.