![In this Oct. 24, 2018, photo released by the U.S. Air Force, members of the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron prepare to launch an RQ-4 Global Hawk at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk on Thursday, June 20, 2019, amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over its collapsing nuclear deal with world powers, American and Iranian officials said, though they disputed the circumstances of the incident. (Staff Sgt. Ramon A. Adelan/U.S. Air Force via AP) In this Oct. 24, 2018, photo released by the U.S. Air Force, members of the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron prepare to launch an RQ-4 Global Hawk at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk on Thursday, June 20, 2019, amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over its collapsing nuclear deal with world powers, American and Iranian officials said, though they disputed the circumstances of the incident. (Staff Sgt. Ramon A. Adelan/U.S. Air Force via AP)](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2023/12/20/0000018c-8093-ddaf-afbe-99db6e2f0000.jpg?w=535)
Staff Sgt. Ramon Adelan / Associated Press
In this Oct. 24, 2018, photo released by the U.S. Air Force, members of the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron prepare to launch an RQ-4 Global Hawk at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard shot down a U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk on Thursday, June 20, 2019, amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over its collapsing nuclear deal with world powers, American and Iranian officials said, though they disputed the circumstances of the incident. (Staff Sgt. Ramon A. Adelan/U.S. Air Force via AP) The Defense Department has awarded San Diego’s Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems $72 million to repair RQ-4 Global Hawks, unmanned surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence aircraft that have been widely used around the world, including during missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and North Africa.
The remotely-piloted aircraft are operated by the Air Force, which can keep the high-flying vehicles in the air for more than 30 hours at a time. Northrop says the aircraft have amassed more than 320,000 flight hours supporting military missions.
And San Diego’s Continental Maritime will receive about $13 million from the Defense Department to repair, upgrade and modernize the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Momsen.
Originally Published: