Seoul requests U.S. sale of Global Hawks

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- South Korea is looking to buy four RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawks from the United States through the Foreign Military Sales program.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, in its notification to Congress, said the $1.2 billion deal would include associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

"The Republic of Korea needs this intelligence and surveillance capability to assume primary responsibility for intelligence gathering from the U.S.-led Combined Forces Command in 2015," the agency said. "The proposed sale of the RQ-4 will maintain adequate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and will ensure the alliance is able to monitor and deter regional threats in 2015 and beyond."

The remotely piloted aircraft sought by South Korea would be equipped with the Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite, which includes infrared/electro-optical, synthetic aperture radar imagery and ground moving target indicator.

Other items in the proposed sale include a mission control element, launch and recovery element, signals intelligence package, an imagery intelligence exploitation system, test equipment, ground support, operational flight test support, communications equipment, spare and repair parts.

Northrop Grumman would be the principal contractor.