US PACOM Global Hawks move to Yokota
Five US Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS have been temporarily deployed to Yokota Air Base in Japan, from where they will support US intelligence operations until October 2017, the US Pacific Command announced on 10 May.
The fleet is based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. In the summer months when Guam's inclement weather during the island's typhoon season make operations difficult, the fleet is operated from Misawa Air Base, Japan. As Misawa's runway is currently undergoing construction, the fleet has temporarily moved to Yokota.
The five Global Hawks and approximately 105 support and operations personnel with the 69th Reconnaissance Group Detachment 1 support US intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance requirements, operational plans and contingency operations throughout the Pacific theatre. Global Hawk provides persistent, day and night, high-resolution, all-weather imagery of large geographic areas with its integrated sensor and camera payload.
The fleet has also supported disaster relief and rescue operations in the region, including supporting Operation Tomadachi relief efforts following the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami; and providing reconnaissance of the status of the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Royal Navy uncrewed aircraft trial marks European first]()
Royal Navy uncrewed aircraft trial marks European first
UK flight test sees largest unmanned aircraft take off from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: Chinese AR-2000 large ship-borne UAV makes debut
CATIC have displayed its new AR-2000 drone at Dubai Airshow 2023, emphasising ship-based capabilities with PLA already purchasing.
-
![Australian Triton takes to the skies]()
Australian Triton takes to the skies
Australia has ordered four Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS which can operate as an uncrewed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) alongside the country’s in-service Boeing P-8A MPA fleet.
-
![Elistair unveils automated tethered observation UAS]()
Elistair unveils automated tethered observation UAS
The Khronos tethered UAS has been designed to be simple to use and has drawn on Elistair’s experience with hundreds of existing customers.
-
![Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024]()
Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024
The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.
-
![Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities]()
Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities
A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.
