Global Hawk supports USAF ABMS exercises
Global Hawk plays a significant role in autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance systems in support of numerous missions. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)
USAF conducted exercises using Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk UAV to advance the ABMS.
Northrop Grumman’s Block 30 Global Hawk was utilised by the USAF during Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) exercises for the United States European Command.
The Global Hawk utilises imagery and signals intelligence collection capabilities to play a significant role as an autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance system in support of military missions.
The USAF’s two-decade use of Global Hawk to collect intelligence and deter regional threats reflects the level of confidence in the platform’s range, endurance and payload capacity.
Global Hawk is able to meet future operational needs by extending and connecting beyond its traditional strategic ISR mission and serve as an airborne network edge node.
This will provide persistent communications relay and secure processing without putting personnel in harm’s way.
The ABMS is intended to integrate existing and new sensors into a new global C2 network for the USAF, it has been based on the concept of the internet of things.
About $3.8 billion will be invested on ABMS between FY2019 and FY2024.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Global Hawk UAV has accumulated more than 200,000 flight hours and has been operated by the branches of the US Armed Forces since 2003.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Callen-Lenz pushes ahead with Nyan OWE as it hails operational success]()
Callen-Lenz pushes ahead with Nyan OWE as it hails operational success
The one-way-effector uncrewed aerial vehicle has also been tested by the British Army, following on from its contract award notice in February 2026.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Locally produced loitering munition destined for UAE Navy, says MBDA]()
Eurosatory 2026: Locally produced loitering munition destined for UAE Navy, says MBDA
The contract signed between MBDA and Fly-R will see diamond-shaped loitering munitions developed and prepared in the UAE. How does this move fit into wider market trends in the region?
-
![Eurosatory 2026: MBDA and Thales look to civilian industry for loitering munition scale-up]()
Eurosatory 2026: MBDA and Thales look to civilian industry for loitering munition scale-up
Thales and MBDA have taken steps to ensure the mass production of their respective loitering munition offerings at Eurosatoy, teaming with civilian manufacturers. These moves come amid France’s push towards sovereign drone production and continued market expansion.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: How the deep-strike, loitering munition market skyrocketed to $13.8 billion in three years]()
Eurosatory 2026: How the deep-strike, loitering munition market skyrocketed to $13.8 billion in three years
Ukraine’s rapid development of long-range, deep-strike loitering munitions has helped turn the sector into a market worth an estimated US$13.2 billion. The reasons behind this were outlined during Eurosatory 2026, as other countries embark on the early stages of procuring this capability.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Why security agencies are expanding UAS operations across Europe]()
Eurosatory 2026: Why security agencies are expanding UAS operations across Europe
Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are an increasingly important tool for Europe’s law enforcement and public security agencies, with the past two years seeing rapid growth in operational deployment, procurement and regulatory acceptance.
