Northrop Grumman has this week unveiled the latest generation spy plane into our crowded skies, the Firebird.

This is the the curvy super model of surveillance aircraft. Most unusual for an unmanned aircraft is the inclusion of a cockpit option allowing this bad boy to do double duty as either an automated drone or as a more traditional piloted surveillance aircraft. Flexibility is the theme of the day for the Firebird and it takes it to the extreme. This may well be the Swiss army knife of the slow moving surveillance aircraft. With the ability to juggle high def video, ultra hi-res pictures, infra red, ultra violet, radar and communications simultaneously this is a multitasking master.

Firebird has been designed as a medium altitude long-range surveillance aircraft that is capable of switching roles quickly and easily as well as providing multiple types of surveillance to be carried out simultaneously. For an aircraft of this size – 10.3meters long and a wingspan of 19.8meters – the payload bay is generous in size and capacity – over 500kg payload – and is the key to this flexibility.

The ace up its proverbial sleeve is its ability to slot in multiple intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and communications payloads simultaneously through a universal interface. Yes Northrup has developed USB for spy aircraft. The payload bay of this striking aircraft is able to plug in various modules that allow it to adapt to any mission type. Just like USB the aircraft will detect and enable whatever modules are plugged in and allow many modules to operate simultaneously. This is a level of flexibility that is unseen in small to medium aircraft.

The nature of surveillance, responding to unfolding situations makes it essential to be able to get a pair of eyes into the sky over the area of interest quickly. Response time is critical and that is the specialty of the Firebird. Various modules and sensor types are quickly be loaded in and the aircraft sent skyward. Persistence is the other key to gathering information, the Firebird has the ability to stay aloft for 40 hours at a time, now that’s persistent.

Surveillance flights have always been a dangerous business, ever since the early days of the U2 being shot down over Russia pilots have been taking great risks to get real time information. With the acceptance of aircraft like the Predator these missions no longer require pilots to be put at risk to gather information. In situations of low risk and fast response time a pilot is still an option with the Firebird, unique in this class of aircraft.

Legendary wacky aircraft designer Burt Rutan and his company – Scaled Composites – also responsible for Virgins SpaceShipOne and Two- led the design work until his retirement last month. Just like a master painter will embed his personality into their works of art, Burt Rutan does the same. this is most obvious in the unusual lines and flowing shape of the aircraft. Northrup purchased Rutan’s company in 2007 which explains why a number of Northrop’s designs have been so leading edge and unusual of late.

Northrop’s press release goes on to say “Not only have we increased the number of ISR sensors working simultaneously in an aircraft of this size, but we can also incorporate various sensors that complement each other – greatly enhancing Firebird’s information-gathering value for warfighters,” said Rick Crooks, Northrop Grumman’s Firebird program manager. “Firebird is an adaptable system that makes it highly affordable because of the number of different missions it can accomplish during a single flight. It’s a real game changer.”

Northrup Grumman are working overtime at the moment to rule the unmanned air up there, the X-47B has just begun testing with the Navy and is capable of doing automated landings on aircraft carriers. With a triangular stealthy profile this is without a doubt one of the most futuristic and spectacular aircraft – manned or unmanned – at the moment.

Testing of various configurations of the Firebird will begin this year – May 23 to June 3, 2011 – during Empire Challenge 2011, a military exercise run by U.S. Joint Forces Command. Keep up the hard work Northrop, these aircraft will be all of our eyes over the battlefield, providing incredibly detailed coverage of any battle-field.

Most surprising is the fact that news channels haven’t caught onto this technology yet, this could make even the most mundane news channel interesting, we may never need to leave the couch again.

Buddha’s Brother out.…