Northrop Grumman will begin acceptance tests on the first Euro Hawk variant of the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) following its official rollout at Palmdale, Calif., Oct 8.

The first international version of the UAV, which differs from previous variants in having six wing-mounted signals intelligence (SIGINT) pods, will require revised flight control software. This is being finalized for the start of taxi tests, currently expected to start in February.

Northrop Grumman also is working with the U.S. State Department to secure diplomatic clearance for the German-owned Euro Hawk to ferry the short distance to Edwards Air Force Base during its first flight, which is targeted for March. There the aircraft will conduct six months of envelope expansion work before transiting to Germany.

Northrop Grumman Euro Hawk program manager Jim Kohn says “we’re working on the route right now,” but current plans call for a direct flight along the great circle route via Canadian airspace. Previous trans-Atlantic flights from the west coast have transited via Florida, but Kohn says the shorter route will reduce flight time by around six hours.

Following delivery to EADS’ Manching site in Germany around Sept/Oct 2010, a full-up SIGINT suite will replace dummy payloads used up until then. After several months of ground clearance and test operations the aircraft will be handed over to the German Luftwaffe in 2011 for six months of concept of operations development work. This is expected to lead to a German request for proposals for a further four production Euro Hawks with contracts due in late 2012.

Northrop Grumman is currently planning to dovetail the Euro Hawk production with U.S. Air Force aircraft in Lots 12 and 13. Northrop Grumman hopes the Euro Hawk — the first variant for a foreign customer — will be a pathfinder for “a huge” international market, says company strike and surveillance division general manager Duke Dufresne. Aside from sales to Germany and NATO, the Global Hawk also is being eyed by Australia, Spain, Korea and Japan, amongst others, he says. “That’s why this is so significant,” Dufresne adds.