Tri-Service
NATO Takes Delivery Of New Drones
After a human rights organisation has called on the United Nations to implement a ban on 'killer robots', the first of NATO's five unmanned drones has rolled off the factory line.
The Global Hawk can take pictures from up to 60 thousand feet.
Events in eastern Europe have strengethened NATO's argument that a drone is needed for ground surveillance aircraft.
It's been paid for by fifteen NATO members - many of them are Balkan nations. This news comes as three Baltic countries are preparing to ask for a permanent presence of NATO troops on their soil to act as a deterrent to the Russian military.
NATO expects to begin operating the aircraft from Sigonella Air Base, Italy, in 2017.
Facts & Figures of the Global Hawk:
Primary function: High-altitude, long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
Power Plant: Rolls Royce-North American AE 3007H turbofan
Wingspan: 130.9 ft / 39.8 mLength: 47.6 ft / 14.5 m
Height: 15.3 ft / 4.7 m
Weight: 14,950 lbs / 6,781 kg
Payload: 3,000 lbs / 1,360 kg
Speed: 310 knots / 357 mph / 575 kph
Range: 8,700 nautical miles / 10,112 miles / 16,113 km
Ceiling: 60,000 ft / 18,288 m
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