The first Global Hawk unmanned aircraft will arrive at Grand Forks Air Force Base in a little more than a year, base officials said this week.
Lt. Chase McFarland, a public affairs officer, said the first of the reconnaissance aircraft would arrive in summer 2011 to be followed in the next few years by other Global Hawks in the squadron.
The base also is adding Predators as part of its transition away from the flying tanker mission to the unmanned aircraft mission.
Predators are relatively well known in the Red River Valley because there's already one stationed at the base under the control of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Hawks are much larger, with -- as the name suggests -- global range.
In related news, Northrop Grumman, the makers of the Global Hawk will hold a town hall meeting to introduce the new bird to the community at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Alerus Center.
