Northrop Grumman & RMIT University Studying Requirements for Unmanned Aircraft in Australia

By Caroline Rees / 13 May 2014

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

Global Hawk UASNorthrop Grumman Corporation is collaborating with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, to study airworthiness requirements for operating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in Australia.

The collaboration involves developing solutions for safely and efficiently operating UAS in all airspace environments with a particular focus on larger systems the size of small commercial jets.

“As a producer of large-scale unmanned aircraft systems, our goal is not only to provide the aircraft, but also to understand fully the Australian government’s needs to certify them for operation,” said Ian Irving, chief executive for Northrop Grumman Australia. “We’re extremely excited to work with RMIT University because of their leadership in the development of innovative approaches to civil and military airspace regulatory reform and air vehicle certification.”

Northrop Grumman has 70 years’ experience producing unmanned vehicles and has delivered more than 100,000 unmanned aircraft systems to military customers in the U.S. and around the world.

Reece Clothier, from RMIT’s Sir Lawrence Wackett Aerospace Research Centre, said, “Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of high-altitude unmanned aircraft systems that will provide a transformative capability to the Australian Defence Force [ADF]. In collaboration with Northrop Grumman and the ADF, we will help establish a plan for bringing this unique capability into service.”

In 2001, a Global Hawk UAS became the first unmanned, powered aircraft to cross the Pacific Ocean in a flight of more than 23-hour duration from Southern California to Adelaide.

Global Hawk is also the first UAS to achieve U.S. military airworthiness certification, along with a certificate of authorization from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, recognizing the system for its ability to routinely fly within national airspace.

Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

SAE Media Group Releases Agenda for Counter UAS Middle East & Africa 2025

The inaugural Counter UAS Middle East & Africa 2025 will gather global defense leaders in Amman to explore threats, technologies, and strategies shaping regional drone defense

May 13, 2025
New Quartz Accelerometers for Industrial Applications Unveiled

Micro-Magic launches AC-6 quartz flexure accelerometers for demanding unmanned applications operating in high-temperature, high-vibration industrial environments

May 13, 2025
Advantages of Forward Looking Sonar: Q&A with FarSounder

Jake Palmer from FarSounder delves into the advantages of forward looking sonar, emerging trends, and highlights the environmental impact of their technology

May 13, 2025
GA-ASI’s Next Generation RPAS Meets Stringent Airworthiness Standards

The UK has certified the RAF’s Protector RG Mk1 UAS based on GA-ASI's MQ-9B, marking a major milestone in airworthiness for large, unmanned aircraft systems

May 13, 2025
CENTUM to Provide Signal Intelligence Systems for Maritime Drone Surveillance

Marine Instruments and CENTUM are collaborating to equip the M5D-Airfox drone with airborne signal intelligence, enhancing maritime surveillance and rescue missions

May 13, 2025
Textron Uncrewed Technologies Strengthen Littoral Combat Ship Operations

Learn how the integration of Aerosonde UAS and CUSV is transforming Littoral Combat Ship missions with enhanced versatility, autonomy, and operational reach

May 13, 2025

Featured Content

SAE Media Group Releases Agenda for Counter UAS Middle East & Africa 2025

The inaugural Counter UAS Middle East & Africa 2025 will gather global defense leaders in Amman to explore threats, technologies, and strategies shaping regional drone defense

May 13, 2025
New Tactical Grade IMU from Inertial Labs for UAVs & Guided Munitions

Inertial Labs has launched the IMU-H100, a compact, tactical-grade MEMS IMU designed to enhance precision navigation for UAVs and guided systems

May 08, 2025
Geolocation in GPS-Denied Environments Successfully Demonstrated

Trillium Engineering's GD-Loc, integrated with the HD55-MV gimbal on a Group 2 UAS, has successfully demonstrated sustained Category 1 geolocation accuracy within six meters, highlighting its critical advantage for precise ISR missions in GPS-denied environments

May 06, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.