Investment Into Larger Drones Highlights Their Utility With Mini-Drones

Video Above: Northrop Grumman& Eastern Shipbuilding Group Build New Weapons into The New Coast Guard Off UShore Patrol Cutter

By Kris Osborn – Warrior Maven

(Washington, D.C.) Mini-drones, drone swarms and stealthy drones all regularly receive attention as areas of Pentagon emphasis for future warfare. This is because advances in sensor technology are quickly miniaturizing form-factors and increasing image resolution from longer ranges, all while accelerated, AI-enabled computer processing streamlines data analysis from those sensors.

But what about existing, larger medium and high-altitude drones such as the Air Force Reaper and Global Hawk, or emerging Navy Triton?

It appears they are here to stay for decades. Despite the fast-growing emergence of highly computerized mini-drone swarms and stealthier unmanned platforms engineered for high threat areas, existing high-performance, yet-less-stealthy drones do not appear to be going anywhere.

Right now, there are Air Force-Northrop Grumman efforts to modernize and sustain Global Hawk drones well into 2040. In addition, there are Navy moves to increase the number of maritime-focused Triton patrols in the Pacific while also undertaking countless Reaper weapons and fuel-efficiency upgrades. Furthermore, the Air Force is streamlining sensor package advancements and maintenance with both Global Hawk and Triton drone platforms.

“The contract provides for repair services for “common items” for both the RQ-4 GH (Global Hawk) and MQ-4C Triton. It will support reparable national stock numbers which encompass the air vehicle, multiple sensor packages, mission control element and launch and recovery element,” a Pentagon statement said.