USAF RQ-4 Global Hawk expands operational area

The US Air Force has expanded the operational area of its RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle into the Pacific to support US Pacific Command peacetime surveillance requirements in the region. The move has seen two Global Hawk aircraft deployed to Guam.

Global Hawk has been flying early operational capability (EOC) missions since September 2013, providing the high priority wide area surveillance ground moving target indicator (GMTI) capability in the US Central and Africa Command regions.

Equipped with the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program sensor capable of detecting fixed and moving targets, the aircraft are used to support diverse global missions, including anti-terrorism, anti-piracy, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, airborne communications and information-sharing missions.

Global Hawk GMTI EOC operations have proven the viability of the system, and full system capability will be demonstrated when the system enters initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) in the spring of next year.

The US Air Force operates Global Hawk largely out of the 69th Reconnaissance Group at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The 69th Reconnaissance Group falls under the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, central station for the entire Global Hawk fleet based at Beale Air Force Base, California.

Col Lawrence Spinetta, commander of the 69th Reconnaissance Group, said: ‘Global Hawk delivers tremendous capabilities. It offers unmatched range and persistence. As a result, combatant commander demand for the RQ-4 continues to skyrocket. Operational success has led one theatre after another to request support from this high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft.’

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RQ-4 Global Hawk