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{{short description|Unmanned surveillance aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout and guidelines. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
|name= RQ-4 Global Hawk
|image= File:Global Hawk 1.jpg
|image_caption= An RQ-4 Global Hawk flying in 2007
|aircraft_type= [[Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle]]
|national_origin= [[United States]]
|manufacturer= [[Northrop Grumman]]
|first_flight= 28 February 1998
|introduction= November 2001
|retired=
|status= In service
|primary_user= [[United States Air Force]]
|more_users= [[NASA]] <br />[[NATO]]
|produced= 1998–present
|number_built= 42 RQ-4Bs as of FY2013<ref name=GAO-13-294SP/>
|program cost= US$10 billion (USAF cost through FY2014)<ref name=GAO-13-294SP/>
|unit cost= US$131.4M (FY13)<ref name=GAO-13-294SP/> <br />US$222.7M (with R&D)<ref name=GAO-13-294SP/>
|developed_from=
|variants=
|developed_into= [[Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton]]
}}
The '''Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk''' is a high-altitude, [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|remotely-piloted]] [[surveillance aircraft]] introduced in 2001. It was initially designed by [[Ryan Aeronautical]] (now part of [[Northrop Grumman]]), and known as '''Tier II+''' during development. The RQ-4 provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution [[synthetic aperture radar]] (SAR) and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors with long [[Loiter (aeronautics)|loiter]] times over target areas.
The Global Hawk is operated by the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF). It is used as a [[High-Altitude Long Endurance|high-altitude long endurance]] (HALE) platform<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/HALE/Pages/default.aspx |title=Global Hawk Enterprise |website=Northrop Grumman |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031728/http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/HALE/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> covering the spectrum of [[intelligence collection]] capability to support forces in worldwide military operations. According to the USAF, the superior surveillance capabilities of the aircraft allow more precise weapons targeting and better protection of friendly forces.
Cost overruns led to the original plan to acquire 63 aircraft being cut to 45, and to a 2013 proposal to mothball the 21 [[Block number|Block]] 30 [[signals intelligence]] variants.<ref name=GAO-13-294SP/> The initial [[flyaway cost]] of each of the first 10 aircraft was US$10 million in 1994.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/230/229022.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.gao.gov/assets/230/229022.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Progress of the Global Hawk Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration |last=US GAO |date=April 2000}}</ref> By 2001, this had risen to US$60.9 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=60900000|start_year=2001}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}),<ref>[http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2006/5/1/2006may--soaring-costs-not-likely-to-slow-down-global-hawk "Soaring Costs Not Likely to Slow Down Global Hawk"]. ''National Defence Magazine'', May 2006.</ref> and then to $131.4 million (flyaway cost) in 2013.<ref name=GAO-13-294SP/> The [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] has developed the Global Hawk into the [[Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton|MQ-4C Triton]] maritime surveillance platform. {{As of|2022}}, the U.S. Air Force plans to retire its Global Hawks in 2027.<ref name=bdefense20220727/>
==Development==
===Origins===
{{expand section|Background, development, context, and history of the design; this article is focused almost entirely on events after c. 2006|date=July 2014}}
In the 1990s, the Air Force was developing uncrewed aerial intelligence platforms. One was the stealthy [[Lockheed Martin RQ-3 DarkStar]]; another was the Global Hawk. Due to budget cuts, only one of the programs could survive. It was decided to proceed with the Global Hawk for its range and payload rather than go with the stealth Dark Star.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://irp.fas.org/program/collect/darkstar.htm|title=DarkStar Tier III Minus|website=irp.fas.org}}</ref>
The Global Hawk took its first flight on 28 February 1998,<ref name="100K_flt_hrs" /> at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California.<ref>''Guinness World Records 2000: Millennium Edition'', '''ISBN-10''' 1892051001, '''ISBN-13:''' 978-1892051004.</ref> The first seven aircraft were built under the [[Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration]] (ACTD) program, sponsored by [[DARPA]],<ref name="NASA Global Hawk"/> in order to evaluate the design and demonstrate its capabilities. Demand for the RQ-4's abilities was high in the [[Middle East]]; thus, the prototype aircraft were actively operated by the USAF in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]. In an unusual move, the aircraft entered initial low-rate production while still in engineering and manufacturing development. Nine production Block 10 aircraft, sometimes referred to as '''RQ-4A''', were produced; of these, two were sold to the US Navy and an additional two were deployed to [[Iraq]] to support operations there. The final Block 10 aircraft was delivered on 26 June 2006.<ref>[http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Last_Block_10_Global_Hawk_Arrives_For_Check_Flights.html "Last Block 10 Global Hawk Arrives For Check Flights"]. spacewar.com</ref>
To increase the aircraft's capabilities, the airframe was redesigned, with the nose section and wings being stretched. The modified aircraft, designated RQ-4B Block 20,<ref name=USAF_fact_sheet>{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104516/rq-4-global-hawk/ |title= RQ-4 Global Hawk fact sheet |publisher=US Air Force |access-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> can carry up to 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) of internal payload. These changes were introduced with the first Block 20 aircraft, the 17th Global Hawk produced, which was rolled out in a ceremony on 25 August 2006.<ref name="ReferenceA">"Northrop unveils next generation Global Hawk", ''[[Aerotech News and Review]]'', 1 September 2006.</ref> First flight of the Block 20 from the [[United States Air Force Plant 42|USAF Plant 42]] in [[Palmdale, California]] to [[Edwards Air Force Base]] took place on 1 March 2007. Developmental testing of Block 20 took place in 2008.<ref>McGee, Chris, "Global Hawk in demand, passes 10,000 flight hours milestone", ''Aerotech News and Review'', 11 August 2006.</ref>
===United States Navy version===
{{main|Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton}}
[[File:MQ-4C Triton flight testing.jpg|thumb|right|The prototype MQ-4C on its first flight]]
The United States Navy took delivery of two of the Block 10 aircraft to evaluate their maritime surveillance capabilities, designated N-1 (BuNo 166509) and N-2 (BuNo 166510).<ref>[http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=79851 Northrop Grumman Press Release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040258/http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=79851 |date=24 September 2015 }}, 13 June 2005.</ref> The initial navalised example was tested at Edwards Air Force Base briefly, before moving to [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]] in March 2006 for the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) program,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005 |title=Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA445081.pdf |access-date=17 August 2024 |website=[[Defense Technical Information Center]] (DTIC) |publisher=Office of the Security of Defense |page=14}}</ref> operated by Navy squadron [[VX-20]].<ref name="avweek_20041001">Selinger, M. "[http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aerospacedaily_story.jsp?id=news/ghawk10014.xml U.S. Navy To Receive First Global Hawk Next Week] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024043343/http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aerospacedaily_story.jsp?id=news%2Fghawk10014.xml |date=24 October 2006}}." ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]''. 1 October 2004.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/transformation/articles/2006-03/ta033006a.html |title=First Unmanned Global Hawk Delivered to U.S. Navy |work=defenselink.mil |publisher= U.S. Department of Defense Transformation News Story |first=Phillip E. |last=Copeland |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>
In July 2006, the GHMD aircraft flew in the Rim of the Pacific ([[Exercise RIMPAC|RIMPAC exercise]]) for the first time. Although it was in the vicinity of [[Hawaii]], the aircraft was operated from [[Naval Air Station Point Mugu|NBVC Point Mugu]], requiring flights of approximately {{convert|2500|mi|km|abbr=on}} each way to the area. Four flights were performed, resulting in over 24 hours of persistent maritime surveillance coordinated with the aircraft carrier {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}} and amphibious warfare ship {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|6}}. For the GHMD program, the Global Hawk was tasked with maintaining maritime situational awareness, contact tracking, and imagery support of exercise operations. Images were transmitted to NAS Patuxent River for processing and then forwarded to the fleet off Hawaii.<ref>"Navy Global Hawk Performs in RIMPAC", ''Aerotech News and Review'', 18 August 2006.</ref>
Northrop Grumman entered an RQ-4B variant in the US Navy's [[Broad Area Maritime Surveillance]] (BAMS) UAV competition. On 22 April 2008, it was announced that Northrop Grumman's ''RQ-4N'' had won and that the Navy had awarded a US$1.16 billion (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=1160000000|start_year=2008}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11856 |title=Defense.gov News Release: Navy Awards Northrop Grumman Unmanned Aircraft System Contract |work=defenselink.mil |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> In September 2010, the RQ-4N was officially designated the ''MQ-4C''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.navair.navy.mil/press_releases/index.cfm?fuseaction=press_release_view&press_release_id=4402&site_id=13|title=BAMS given MQ-4C designation}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
The Navy MQ-4C differs from the Air Force RQ-4 mainly in its wing. While the Global Hawk remains at high altitude to conduct surveillance, the Triton climbs to {{Cvt|50,000|ft|m}} to see a wide area and can drop to {{Cvt|10,000|ft|m}} to get further identification of a target. The Triton's wings are specially designed to take the stresses of rapidly decreasing altitude. Though similar in appearance to the Global Hawk's wings, the Triton's internal wing structure is much stronger and has additional features including anti-icing capabilities and impact and lightning strike protection.<ref>[http://news.usni.org/2014/02/21/trition-testing-ahead-schedule Triton Testing Ahead of Schedule] – News.USNI.org, 21 February 2014</ref>
On 17 June 2022, the Navy brought its last deployed RQ-4A BAMS-D back from the Middle East, ending what started as a six-month experiment but turned into a 13-year deployment. The Navy had acquired five Block 10 RQ-4As and since 2009 at least one had been kept on rotation in the Persian Gulf region. The aircraft accrued over 42,500 flight hours in 2,069 missions; one was lost in an accident and another was [[2019 Iranian shoot-down of American drone|shot down by Iran]]. The BAMS-D was replaced in Navy service with the MQ-4C.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=22 June 2022|title=Navy's RQ-4A BAMS-D UAVs End 13-Year Mideast Deployment|url=https://seapowermagazine.org/navys-rq-4a-bams-d-uavs-end-13-year-mideast-deployment/|access-date=|website=Seapower Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803224833/https://seapowermagazine.org/navys-rq-4a-bams-d-uavs-end-13-year-mideast-deployment/|archive-date=3 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Cost increases and procurement===
Development [[cost overrun]]s placed the Global Hawk at risk of cancellation. In mid-2006, per-unit costs were 25% over baseline estimates, caused by both the need to correct design deficiencies as well as to increase its capabilities. This caused concern over a possible congressional termination of the program if its national security benefits could not be justified.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cost overruns put Global Hawk at risk |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/cost-overruns-put-global-hawk-at-risk-206015/ |access-date=22 October 2006 |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |date=18 April 2006 |___location=Washington DC}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.sbac.co.uk/community/cms/content/preview/news_item_view.asp?i=10233&t=0 |date=20 April 2006 |title=Cost overruns put Global Hawk at risk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928053842/http://www.sbac.co.uk/community/cms/content/preview/news_item_view.asp?i=10233&t=0 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |publisher=SBAC}}</ref> However, in June 2006, the program was restructured. Completion of an operational assessment report by the USAF was delayed from 2005 to 2007 due to manufacturing and development delays. The operational assessment report was released in March 2007 and production of the 54 air vehicles planned was extended by two years to 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=Global Hawk costs soar to $10bn |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/global-hawk-costs-soar-to-10bn-210621/ |access-date=22 November 2006 |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |date=21 November 2006}}</ref>
[[File:RQ-4 Global Hawk.jpg|thumb|A maintenance crew preparing a Global Hawk at [[Beale Air Force Base]]]]
In February 2011, the USAF reduced its planned purchase of RQ-4 Block 40 aircraft from 22 to 11 in order to cut costs.<ref>Putrich, Gayle. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/02/22/353512/northrop-global-hawk-not-slowing-down-even-with-cuts.html "Northrop: Global Hawk not slowing down even with cuts"]. ''Flight International'', 22 February 2011.</ref> In June 2011, the U.S. Defense Department's [[Director, Operational Test and Evaluation]] (DOT&E) found the RQ-4B "not operationally effective" due to reliability issues.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-06/pentagon-says-northrop-s-global-hawk-drone-isn-t-effective-.html "Pentagon Says Northrop Drone Isn’t ‘Effective’."] Bloomberg News, 6 June 2011.</ref> In June 2011, the Global Hawk was certified by the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] as critical to national security following a breach of the [[Nunn-McCurdy Amendment]]; the Secretary stated: "The Global Hawk is essential to national security; there are no alternatives to Global Hawk which provide acceptable capability at less cost; Global Hawk costs $220M less per year than the [[Lockheed U-2]] to operate on a comparable mission; the U-2 cannot simultaneously carry the same sensors as the Global Hawk; and if funding must be reduced, Global Hawk has a higher priority over other programs."<ref>"Nunn-McCurdy Certification Acquisition Decision Memorandum for the Restructured RQ-4A/B Unmanned Aircraft System Global Hawk." Memorandum for Secretary of the Air Force, 14 June 2011.</ref>
On 26 January 2012, the Pentagon announced plans to end Global Hawk Block 30 procurement as the type was found to be more expensive to operate and with less capable sensors than the existing U-2.<ref>[http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Budget_Priorities.pdf "Defense Budget Priorities and Choices", p. 11] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129031623/http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Budget_Priorities.pdf |date=29 January 2012}}. US DoD, January 2012.</ref><ref>Clark, Colin. [http://defense.aol.com/2012/01/27/air-force-to-cut-10-000-global-hawks-get-warehoused/ "Air Force To Cut 10,000; Global Hawks Get Warehoused."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130181349/http://defense.aol.com/2012/01/27/air-force-to-cut-10-000-global-hawks-get-warehoused/ |date=30 January 2012}} ''Aol Defense'', 27 January 2012.</ref> Plans to increase procurement of the Block 40 variant were also announced.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stephen |first=Trimble |title=Pentagon slashes fighter squadrons, airlifters in new budget proposal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pentagon-slashes-fighter-squadrons-airlifters-in-new-budget-proposal-367457/ |work=FlightGlobal |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://defense-update.com/20120129_usaf-cancels-block-30-rq-4-global-hawk.html "USAF Cancels Block 30 RQ-4 Global Hawk"]. ''Defense Update'', 29 January 2012.</ref> The Air Force's fiscal year 2013 budget request said it had resolved to divest itself of the Block 30 variant; however, the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013]] mandated operations of the Block 30 fleet through the end of 2014.<ref name="FY2013 block 30">{{cite news |title=Global Hawk Program Manager Plans For Early Deliveries, Budget Cuts |url=http://insidedefense.com/index.php?option=com_user&view=login&return=aHR0cDovL2luc2lkZWRlZmVuc2UuY29tL1VubWFubmVkLVN5c3RlbXMvV2Vla2x5LUFsZXJ0L3dlZWtseS1hbGVydC1qYW51YXJ5LTIyLTIwMTMvbWVudS1pZC04OTAuaHRtbA== |newspaper=InsideDefense |date=22 January 2013}}</ref> The USAF plans to procure 45 RQ-4B Global Hawks as of 2013.<ref name=GAO-13-294SP>{{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653379.pdf |title=GAO-13-294SP, Defense Acquisitions Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs |publisher=US Government Accountability Office |date=March 2013 |access-date=26 May 2013 |pages=113–14 |archive-date=14 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414092033/http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653379.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> Before retiring in 2014, ACC commander, General [[Gilmary M. Hostage III|Mike Hostage]] said of the U-2's replacement by the drone that "The combatant commanders are going to suffer for eight years and the best they're going to get is 90 percent".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://breakingdefense.com/2014/09/freeing-the-hostage-acc-commander-outspoken-on-eve-of-retirement/ |title=A Freed Hostage: ACC Commander's Parting Shots |last1=Whittle |first1=Richard |date=17 September 2014 |website=breakingdefense.com |publisher=Breaking Media, Inc. |access-date=22 October 2014}}</ref>
During 2010–2013, costs of flying the RQ-4 fell by more than 50%. In 2010, the cost per flight hour was $40,600, with contractor logistic support making up $25,000 per flight hour of this figure. By mid-2013, cost per flight hour dropped to $18,900, contractor logistic support having dropped to $11,000 per flight hour. This was in part due to higher usage, spreading logistics and support costs over a higher number of flight hours.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2013/09/25052/cost-of-flying-northrops-global-hawk-down-over-50-sources/ "Cost of flying Northrop’s Global Hawk down over 50%" ] – suasnews.com, 14 September 2013</ref> In 2015, the RQ-4 was planned to replace the U-2 by 2019, though Lockheed Martin stated the U-2 can remain viable until 2050.<ref name="flightglobal31july15">Drew, James. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/u-2-poised-to-receive-radar-upgrade-but-not-un-manned-415291/ "U-2 poised to receive radar upgrade, but not un-manned conversion."] ''Flightglobal.com'', 31 July 2015. Retrieved: 7 December 2015.</ref> As of January 2018, the U.S. Air Force budget for 2018 had indefinitely postponed the retirement of the U-2.<ref>Insinna, Vallerie. [http://defensenews.va.newsmemory.com/ "With U-2 safe, operators vie for greater investment"]. Defense News, Vol. 33 No. 1 (p. 13), 8 January 2018.</ref> In February 2020, the U.S. Air Force submitted budget documents with confusing language suggesting that it could begin retiring U-2s in 2025 but clarified afterwards that no retirement is planned.<ref>Cohen, Rachel S. [https://www.airforcemag.com/budget-elicits-confusion-over-fate-of-u2/ "Budget Elicits Confusion Over Fate of U-2"]. Airforce Magazine, 11 February 2020.</ref>
In July 2022, the US Air Force announced plans to retire the Global Hawk in 2027.<ref name=bdefense20220727>[https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/exclusive-air-forces-rq-4-global-hawk-drones-headed-for-the-boneyard-in-fy27/ "Air Force’s RQ-4 Global Hawk drones headed for the boneyard in FY27"]. Breaking Defense, retrieved 27 July 2022.</ref>
===EuroHawk===
[[File:Luftwaffe 99-01 RQ-4B EuroHawk ILA 2012 1.jpg|thumb|EuroHawk at the [[Berlin Air Show|ILA]] 2012]]
The [[German Air Force]] (''Luftwaffe'') ordered a variant of the RQ-4B, to be equipped with a customized sensor suite, designated "EuroHawk". The aircraft was based on the RQ-4B Block 20/30/40 and was to be equipped with an [[EADS]]-built [[signals intelligence]] (SIGINT) package; it was intended to fulfill Germany's requirement to replace their aging [[Bréguet 1150 Atlantic|Dassault-Breguet Atlantique]] electronic surveillance aircraft of the ''[[Marineflieger]]'' (Naval Air arm of the German Navy). The EADS sensor package is composed of six wing-mounted pods;<ref name=DID_RQ-4_EuroHawk>{{cite news |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/euro-hawk-program-cleared-for-takeoff-03051/ |title=RQ-4 Euro Hawk UAV Readying for Takeoff |date= 15 May 2013 |work=Defense Industry Daily}}</ref> reportedly these sensor pods could potentially be used on other platforms, including crewed aircraft.<ref name="flight canc may 2013"/>
The EuroHawk was officially rolled out on 8 October 2009 and its first flight took place on 29 June 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=195403 |title=Northrop Grumman and EADS Defence & Security's Euro Hawk Unmanned Aircraft Completes Successful First Flight |date=30 June 2010 |agency=GlobeNewswire |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722232211/http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=195403 |archive-date=22 July 2010}}</ref> It underwent several months of flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base.<ref name="eurohawk">{{cite news |last=Norris |first=Guy |title=Northrop Grumman Unveils Euro Hawk |work=Aerospace Daily and Defense Report |date=12 October 2009}}</ref> On 21 July 2011, the first EuroHawk arrived in [[Manching]], [[Germany]]; after which it was scheduled to receive its SIGINT sensor package and undergo further testing and pilot training until the first quarter of 2012. The Luftwaffe planned to station the type with ''Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51'' ("Reconnaissance wing 51").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flugrevue.de/de/militaer/uav/euro-hawk-landet-in-manching.58984.htm |title=Euro Hawk landet in Manching |date=21 July 2011 |work=Flug Revue |access-date=1 April 2015 |archive-date=21 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321230523/http://www.flugrevue.de/de/militaer/uav/euro-hawk-landet-in-manching.58984.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011 the [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|German Ministry of Defence]] was aware of difficulties with the certification for use within the European airspace.<ref name="Maizière supports">{{cite news |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/global-hawk-de-maizire-foerderte-drohnenprojekt-noch-1.1678724 |date=23 May 2013 |title=De Maizière förderte Drohnenprojekt noch 2012 |language=de |first=Christoph |last=Hickmann |newspaper=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]}}</ref> During flight trials, problems with the EuroHawk's flight control system were found; the German certification process was also complicated by Northrop Grumman refusing to share technical data on the aircraft with which to perform evaluations.<ref name="flight canc may 2013">{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Gubisch |title=Germany pulls plug on Euro Hawk UAV programme |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/germany-pulls-plug-on-euro-hawk-uav-programme-385956/ |work=Flight International |date=16 May 2013}}</ref>
On 13 May 2013, German media reported that the EuroHawk would not be certifiable under [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]] rules without an anti-collision system; thus preventing any operations within European airspace or the airspace of any ICAO member.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/eine-milliarde-euro-versenkt-euro-hawk-wird-nicht-zugelassen-12181768.html |date=13 May 2013 |access-date=14 May 2013 |title=Euro Hawk wird nicht zugelassen |language=de |first=Marco |last=Seliger |newspaper=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dw.de/german-government-culls-costly-euro-hawk-drone-project/a-16812690 "German government culls costly Euro Hawk drone project"]. Deutsche Welle, 15 May 2013.</ref> The additional cost of certification was reported to be more than [[€]]600 million (US$780 million).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130514/DEFREG01/305140015/Germany-axes-Euro-Hawk-drone-program |title=Germany axes Euro Hawk drone program |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=14 May 2013 |website=www.defensenews.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote= |archive-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615220212/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130514/DEFREG01/305140015/Germany-axes-Euro-Hawk-drone-program |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 15 May 2013, the German government announced the immediate termination of the program, attributing the cancellation to the certification issue.<ref name=EuroHawk_halt>[http://www.dw.de/de-maiziere-defends-bundeswehr-reforms-and-euro-hawk-halt/a-16817283 "De Maiziere defends Bundeswehr reforms and Euro Hawk halt"]. Deutsche Welle, 15 May 2013.</ref> Reportedly, the additional cost to develop the EuroHawk to the standards needed for certification may not have guaranteed final approval for certification.<ref>[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-14/news/39256453_1_drones-1-2-billion-euros-eads "Germany will not buy Euro Hawk drones."]{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Reuters, 14 May 2013.</ref>
[[List of German defence ministers|German defense minister]] [[Thomas de Maizière]] stated EuroHawk was "very important" for Germany in 2012,<ref name="Maizière supports"/> then referred to the project as being "a horror without end" in his 2013 statement to the [[Bundestag]]. The total cost of the project before it was canceled was €562 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.luftwaffe.de/portal/a/luftwaffe/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP3I5EyrpHK9nHK98sS0NL3E0rTsHL3U0oxE_YJsR0UACwjUTQ!!/ |title=Euro Hawk |date=15 May 2013 |access-date=16 May 2013 |language=de |agency=[[German Air Force]] (''Luftwaffe'')}}</ref><ref>Gubisch, Michael. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/germany-pulls-plug-on-euro-hawk-uav-programme-385956/ "Germany pulls plug on Euro Hawk UAV programme"]. Flight International, 16 May 2013.</ref> Northrop Grumman and EADS have described reports of flight control problems and high costs for certification as "inaccurate"; they have stated their intention to provide an affordable plan to complete the first EuroHawk's flight testing and produce the remaining four aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-drone-idUSBRE94Q0GR20130527 |date=27 May 2013 |title=EADS to continue to work with Germany on scrapped drone deal |work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=29 May 2013}}</ref><ref>Metha, Aaron. [https://archive.today/20130615220206/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130528/DEFREG/305280016/Euro-Hawk-Team-Remains-Hopeful "Euro Hawk Team Remains Hopeful"]. Defense News, 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.</ref>
On 8 August 2013, the EuroHawk set an endurance record by flying continuously in European airspace for 25.3 hours, reaching an altitude of {{convert|58600|ft|m|-2}}. It was the longest flight by an unrefueled UAS weighing more than {{convert|30000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} in European skies.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2013/09/24814/euro-hawkr-sets-record-with-25-hour-nonstop-flight-in-germany/ Euro Hawk Sets Record With 25-Hour Nonstop Flight in Germany]. sUASNews.com, 3 September 2013</ref> On 5 October 2014, German Minister of Defence [[Ursula von der Leyen]] was reportedly considering reactivating the EuroHawk program to test its reconnaissance abilities over a long period at altitudes of up to {{convert|20000|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Attempting to test the recon system on [[Airbus]] aircraft and an Israeli drone as alternate platforms had proven unsuccessful.<ref name="airrecognition.com">[http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1205 "Germany's Euro Hawk drone may take flight again"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006091535/http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1205 |date=6 October 2014}}. Airrecognition.com, 5 October 2014</ref>
The [[Bundeswehr]] would use it to detect, decrypt, and potentially interfere with enemy communications signals. If tests prove successful, a carrier would be purchased, likely "similar" to the U.S. Global Hawk.<ref name="airrecognition.com"/> Germany is considering installing the EuroHawk's SIGINT payloads onto the U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Global Hawk derivative, as the electronic and communications intelligence sensors would be more difficult to place on other substitute aircraft. It already has icing and lightning-strike protection, and was built with certification over civilian airspace in mind, meeting the [[NATO STANAG 4671|STANAG 4671]] requirements that had ended the EuroHawk program.<ref>[http://aviationweek.com/defense/germany-may-revive-euro-hawk-using-mq-4c "Germany May Revive Euro Hawk Using MQ-4C"]. ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', 12 January 2015</ref>
As of March 2021, Germany plans to put the single RQ-4E aircraft on display in the [[Bundeswehr Military History Museum]] by 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Germany's Unwanted Euro Hawk Drone Has Finally Become A Very Costly Museum Exhibit |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39852/germanys-unwanted-euro-hawk-drone-has-finally-become-a-very-costly-museum-exhibit |website=The Drive |date= 18 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024002415/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39852/germanys-unwanted-euro-hawk-drone-has-finally-become-a-very-costly-museum-exhibit |access-date=24 October 2021|archive-date=24 October 2021}}</ref>
===Universal Payload Adapter and new payloads===
In January 2014, President Obama signed a budget that included a $10 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=10000000|start_year=2014}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) study on adapting the U-2's superior sensors for the RQ-4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140126/DEFREG02/301260027 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140126201154/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140126/DEFREG02/301260027 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2014 |title=Global Hawk Wins in 2015 Request, Sources Say |last1=Mehta |first1=Aaron |date=26 January 2014 |website= defensenews.com |publisher=Gannett Government Media Corporation |access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> In April 2015, Northrop Grumman reportedly installed the U-2's [[Optical Bar Camera]] (OBC) and [[Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System]] (SYERS-2B/C) sensors onto the RQ-4 using a Universal Payload Adapter (UPA). Successful testing indicated that all RQ-4s could be similarly retrofitted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/51076/northrop-grumman-to-test-u-2-sensors-on-global-hawk |title=Northrop Grumman to test U-2 sensors on Global Hawk |publisher=IHS Janes 360 |date= 29 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502152529/https://www.janes.com/article/51076/northrop-grumman-to-test-u-2-sensors-on-global-hawk |archive-date=2 May 2015}}</ref>
On 14 July 2015, Northrop Grumman and the USAF signed an agreement to demonstrate an RQ-4B fitted with the U-2's OBC and SYERS-2C sensors. Two Global Hawks are to be fitted with the UPA, involving the installation of 17 payload adapter fixtures and a new payload bay cover, as well as software and mission system changes for each sensor. The UPA can support {{convert|1200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of sensors and will create a canoe-shaped sensor bay on the fuselage's underside.<ref name="flightglobal.com">[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/northrop-usaf-nearing-deal-for-global-hawk-universal-payload-414345/ Northrop, USAF nearing deal for "Global Hawk universal payload adaptor"]. ''FlightGlobal'', 6 July 2015</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-and-northrop-sign-global-hawk-payload-adaptor-deal-414971/ "USAF and Northrop sign Global Hawk payload adaptor deal"]. ''FlightGlobal'', 23 July 2015</ref>
Northrop Grumman also expects to receive a contract to integrate the [[UTC Aerospace Systems]] MS-177 multispectral sensor used on the [[Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS|Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS]] onto the RQ-4.<ref name="flightglobal.com"/><ref name="ReferenceC"/> The MS-177 will replace the SYERS-2 and includes modernized optronics and a gimbaled rotation device to increase field of view by 20 percent.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/global-hawk-readies-for-new-payload-tests-420082/ "Global Hawk readies for new payload tests".] ''FlightGlobal'', 16 December 2015</ref> The RQ-4B flew with the SYERS-2 on 18 February 2016.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/northrop-rq-4b-trials-dragon-ladys-syers-2-sensor-422396/ "Northrop RQ-4B trials Dragon Lady’s SYERS-2 sensor".] ''FlightGlobal'', 25 February 2016</ref>
Raytheon developed the AN/ALR-89 self-protection suite consisting of the AN/AVR-3 [[laser warning receiver]], AN/APR-49 [[radar warning receiver]], and jamming system, along with the [[AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system|ALE-50]] towed decoy for the Global Hawk.<ref name="ReferenceB">''Aerotech News and Review'', Vol 21, issue 27, 4 August 2006.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/jetds/an-alq2aly.html |title=AN/ALQ to AN/ALT – Equipment Listing |work=designation-systems.net |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=October 2021}}
===Range Hawk===
Although the Global Hawk is being retired from combat use, the [[U.S. Department of Defense|Department of Defense's]] [[List of U.S. Department of Defense agencies|Test Resource Management Center (TRMC)]] is acquiring them to support the SkyRange program to test [[Hypersonic flight|hypersonic missiles]] by 2024. Tests are currently monitored by ships, but it can take a ship 21 days to be positioned and outfitted for use, limiting flights to about a dozen airborne demonstrations a year. By using unmanned aircraft to track hypersonic systems, faster availability and deployment could support a test rate of up to one per week. To perform this new mission, the Global Hawk is retrofitted into the Range Hawk, which involves configuring it to look up rather than down by repositioning onboard avionics and installing new sensors and instrumentation suites to track an overhead hypersonic vehicle. The program will use four Block 20 and twenty Block 30 airframes retired from USAF service.<ref>[https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2022/09/16/skyrange-uncrewed-aircraft-to-speed-hypersonic-testing-by-2024/ ‘SkyRange’ uncrewed aircraft to speed hypersonic testing by 2024]. ''[[Defense News]]''. 16 September 2022.</ref> Converted Block 10 Range Hawks supported 10 hypersonic flight tests in 2023, including two tests in spring 2023 over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans taking place only 10 days apart.<ref>[https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/hypersonics/2024/01/04/airborne-range-hawks-enabling-more-hypersonic-flight-tests/ Airborne Range Hawks enabling more hypersonic flight tests]. ''[[Defense News]]''. 4 January 2024.</ref>
==Design==
[[File:Global Hawk.jpg|thumb|The Global Hawk has a high [[wing aspect ratio]] for efficiency, a single [[Rolls-Royce AE 3007]] turbofan on top with the exhaust between its [[V-tail]], and a front bulge housing its [[satellite antenna]].]]
===Overview===
The Global Hawk UAV system comprises the RQ-4 air vehicle, which is outfitted with various equipment such as sensor packages and communication systems; and a ground element consisting of a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE), and a Mission Control Element (MCE) with ground communications equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/globalhawk_gs/ |title=Global Hawk Ground Segment |access-date=2013-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307140855/http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/globalhawk_gs/ |archive-date=7 March 2013}}</ref> Each RQ-4 air vehicle is powered by an [[Rolls-Royce North America|Allison Rolls-Royce]] [[Rolls-Royce AE 3007|AE3007H]] [[turbofan]] engine with {{convert|7050|lbf |kN|abbr=on}} thrust, and carries a payload of {{convert|2000|lb|kg|abbr=off}}. The fuselage uses aluminum, semi-monocoque construction with a [[V-tail]]; the wings are made of composite materials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/ghrq4b/index.html |access-date=2010-08-16 |title=RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522114647/http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/ghrq4b/index.html |archive-date=22 May 2009}}</ref>
There have been several iterations of the Global Hawk with different features and capabilities. The first version to be used operationally was the RQ-4A Block 10, which performed [[imagery intelligence]] (IMINT) with a {{convert|2000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} payload of a [[synthetic aperture radar]] (SAR) with [[electro-optics|electro-optical]] (EO) and [[infrared camera|infrared]] (IR) sensors. Seven A-model Block 10s were delivered and all were retired by 2011. The RQ-4B Block 20 was the first of the B-model Global Hawks, which has a greater {{convert|3000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} payload and employs upgraded SAR and EO/IR sensors. Four Block 20s were converted into communications relays with the [[Battlefield Airborne Communications Node]] (BACN) payload.<ref name=USAF_fact_sheet/><ref name="RQ-4 Global">[http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/RQ-4-Global-Hawk.html RQ-4 Global Hawk & MQ-4C Triton] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630084945/http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/RQ-4-Global-Hawk.html |date=30 June 2015}}. Bga-Aeroweb.com</ref>
The RQ-4B Block 30 is capable of multi-intelligence (multi-INT) collecting with SAR and EO/IR sensors along with the Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP), a wide-spectrum SIGINT sensor. The RQ-4B Block 40 is equipped with the multi-platform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP) [[active electronically scanned array]] (AESA) radar, which provides SAR and [[moving target indication]] (MTI) data for wide-area surveillance of stationary and moving targets.<ref name=USAF_fact_sheet/><ref name="RQ-4 Global"/>
The RQ-4 is capable of conducting sorties lasting up to 30 hours long and scheduled maintenance must be performed sooner than on other aircraft with less endurance. However, since it flies at higher altitudes than normal aircraft, it experiences less wear during flight.<ref name="dvids24sept15">[https://www.dvidshub.net/news/177042/global-hawk-maintainers-deliver-isr-capability-warfighters "Global Hawk maintainers deliver ISR capability to warfighters".] Dvidshub.net, 24 September 2015</ref> It can survey as much as {{convert|40000|sqmi|sqkm|-4}} of terrain per day, an area the size of [[South Korea]] or [[Iceland]].{{cn|date=February 2024}}
===System and ground facilities===
[[Raytheon]]'s Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) consists of the following sensors:
* a [[Synthetic-aperture radar|synthetic aperture radar]] (SAR)
* electro-optical (EO)
* [[thermographic camera]] (IR)
Either the EO or the IR sensors can operate simultaneously with the SAR. Each sensor provides wide area search imagery and a high-resolution spot mode. The SAR has a [[moving target indication|ground moving target indicator (GMTI)]] mode, which can provide a text message providing the moving target's position and velocity. Both SAR and EO/IR imagery are transmitted from the aircraft to the MCE as individual frames, and reassembled during ground processing. An onboard inertial navigation system, supplemented by [[Global Positioning System]] updates, comprises the navigational suite.
The Global Hawk's camera is capable of identifying objects on the ground as small as {{cvt|30|cm}} in diameter from {{cvt|20|km|ft}} in the air.<ref>[https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/1074974.html After S. Korea’s drone defense shield fails, Yoon goes on the offensive]. ''[[The Hankyoreh]]''. 9 January 2023.</ref>
The Global Hawk is capable of operating autonomously and "untethered". A [[military satellite]] system ([[X Band Satellite Communication]]) is used for sending data from the aircraft to the MCE. The common data link can also be used for direct down link of imagery when the UAV is within line-of-sight of compatible ground stations. For dense flight areas the autonomous navigation is switched off and the RQ-4 is remote controlled via the satellite link by pilots on the ground who are supplied with the same instrument data and who carry the same responsibilities as pilots in crewed planes.<ref>[http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/turboprops/remote-control-flying-predator flyingmag.com: Remote Control: Flying a Predator – How Will Unmanned Airplanes Fit Into Our Airspace System?] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626195322/https://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/turboprops/remote-control-flying-predator/ |date=26 June 2019}}, Lane Wallace, 2 December 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2017</ref>
The [[ground segment]] consists of a [[mission control center|Mission Control Element]] (MCE) and Launch and Recovery Element (LRE), provided by Raytheon. The MCE is used for mission planning, [[command and control]], and [[image processing]] and dissemination; an LRE for controlling launch and recovery; and associated ground support equipment. The LRE provides precision [[Differential GPS]] corrections for navigational accuracy during takeoff and landings, while precision coded GPS supplemented with an [[inertial navigation system]] is used during mission execution. By having separable elements in the ground segment, the MCE and the LRE can operate in geographically separate locations, and the MCE can be deployed with the supported command's primary exploitation site. Both ground segments are contained in military shelters with external antennas for line-of-sight and [[satellite communication]]s with the air vehicles.
===Sensor packages===
[[File:RQ-4 Global Hawk photo of wildfires in Northern California - 080805-N-0000X-001.jpg|thumb|right|A photograph taken by US Navy Global Hawk with an aerial view of wildfires in Northern California, 2008]]
==== Radar ====
{{main|Airborne ground surveillance}}
The Global Hawk carries the Hughes Integrated Surveillance & Reconnaissance (HISAR) sensor system.<ref>"[http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Radar-and-Electronic-Warfare-Systems/Hughes-Integrated-Surveillance-And-Reconnaissance-HISAR-TM-radar-United-States.html Hughes Integrated Surveillance & Reconnaissance (HISAR)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130031905/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Radar-and-Electronic-Warfare-Systems/Hughes-Integrated-Surveillance-And-Reconnaissance-HISAR-TM-radar-United-States.html |date=30 January 2012}}". Jane's Information Group</ref> HISAR is a lower-cost derivative of the ASARS-2 package that Hughes developed for the U-2. It is also fitted to the US Army's [[de Havilland Canada Dash 7|de Havilland Canada RC-7B]] Airborne Reconnaissance Low Multifunction (ARLM) crewed aircraft, and is being sold on the international market. HISAR integrates a [[Synthetic-aperture radar|SAR]]-[[Moving target indication|MTI]] system, along with an optical and a [[thermography]] imager.
All three sensors are controlled and their outputs filtered by a common processor and transmitted in real time at up to 50 Mbit/s to a ground station. The SAR-MTI system operates in the [[X band]] in various operational modes; such as the wide-area MTI mode with a radius of {{convert|62|mi|km|abbr=on}}, combined SAR-MTI strip mode provides {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}} resolution over {{convert|23|mi|km|abbr=on}} wide sections, and a SAR spot mode providing {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} resolution over {{convert|3.8|mi2|km2|abbr=off|sp=us}}.
In July 2006, the USAF began testing the Global Hawk Block 30 upgrades in the [[Benefield Anechoic Facility]] at Edwards AFB. Upgrades include the Advanced Signals Intelligence Payload, an extremely sensitive SIGINT processor.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> and a specialist AESA radar system, the [[Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program]], or MP-RTIP. In 2010, Northrop disclosed the sensor capabilities of the new Block 40 aircraft, including the MP-RTIP radar, emphasising surveillance over reconnaissance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/08/16/346116/next-generation-of-global-hawks-ready-to-roll.html |access-date=2010-08-16 |title=Next generation of Global Hawks ready to roll}}</ref>
On 14 April 2014, a Block 40 Global Hawk completed the first Maritime Modes program risk-reduction flight to enhance the Air Force's maritime surveillance capabilities. Maritime Modes is made up of a Maritime Moving Target Indicator and a Maritime [[Inverse synthetic aperture radar]] (MISAR) that function together to provide ISR information on vessels traveling on the water's surface. During the 11.5-hour flight off of the California coast, the MISAR collected data on over 100 items of interest. Maritime Modes is planned to be integrated with the RQ-4B's existing MP-RTIP radar to detect and produce synthetic aperture [[radar imagery]] of ground vehicles.<ref>[https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/484403/air-force-tests-new-surveillance-capability/ "Air Force tests new surveillance capability"]. AF.mil, 28 April 2014</ref>
In November 2015, Northrop Grumman selected the [[Garmin International]] GSX 70 weather radar to be installed on Air Force Global Hawks. The GSX 70 is designed to provide operators with real-time weather information, offering horizontal scan angles of up to 120 degrees for better visibility into the strength and intensity of convective activity and a vertical scanning mode to analyze storm tops, gradients, and cell buildup activity. It also has a Turbulence Detection feature to identify turbulence in air containing precipitation and other airborne particulates and Ground Clutter Suppression that removes ground returns from the display so operators can focus on weather. Installation is expected to begin in early 2016.<ref>[http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsnorthrop-selects-garmin-weather-radar-for-rq-4-global-hawk-4720415 "Northrop selects Garmin weather radar for RQ-4 Global Hawk".] Airforce-Technology.com, 16 November 2015</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=___domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}} Installation of weather radars on the Global Hawk fleet completed in late 2019.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
==== Visible light/infrared ====
The visible and infrared imagers share the same gimballed sensor package, and use common optics, providing a telescopic close-up capability. It can be optionally fitted with an auxiliary SIGINT package.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104516/rq-4-global-hawk/|title=RQ-4 Global Hawk|access-date=2025-08-23}}</ref>
==Operational history==
===U.S. Air Force===
{{cleanup section|reason=[[WP:PROSELINE]]|date=June 2023}}
Following the [[September 11th attacks]], the normal acquisition process was bypassed almost immediately and early developmental Global Hawk models were employed in overseas contingency operations beginning in November 2001.<ref name="dvids24sept15"/><ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/auvsi-global-hawk-achieves-usaf-milestone-411965/ "Global Hawk achieves USAF milestone".] ''FlightGlobal'', 6 May 2015</ref> Global Hawk ACTD prototypes were used in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] and in the [[Iraq War]]. Since April 2010, they fly the Northern Route, from [[Beale Air Force Base]] over Canada to South-East Asia and back, reducing flight time and improving maintenance. While their data-collection capabilities have been praised, the program lost four prototype aircraft out of six or seven to accidents.<ref>[http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2003/5/1/2003may-global-hawk-crashes-whos-to-blame "Global Hawk Crashes: Who’s to Blame?"]. ''National Defense''. May 2003.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=High-Altitude American Spy Plane Crashes in Pakistan; Engine Failure Cited |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,57382,00.html |access-date=6 October 2023 |work=Fox News |agency=Associated Press |date=10 July 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124085643/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,57382,00.html |archive-date=24 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Michael |title=Pentagon Unhappy About Drone Aircraft Reliability |url=https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2003/5/1/2003may-pentagon-unhappy-about-drone-aircraft-reliability |access-date=5 October 2023 |work=National Defense Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
The crashes were reported to be due to "technical failures or poor maintenance", with a failure rate per hour flown over 100 times higher than the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] fighter. Northrop Grumman stated that it was unfair to compare the failure rates of a mature design to that of a prototype aircraft. In June 2012, a media report described the Global Hawk, the [[General Atomics MQ-1 Predator]] and the [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reapers]] "... the most accident-prone aircraft in the Air Force fleet."<ref>McGarry, Brendan (18 June 2012) [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-18/drones-most-accident-prone-u-s-air-force-craft-bgov-barometer.html "Drones Most Accident-Prone U.S. Air Force Craft: BGOV Barometer"]. Bloomberg. Retrieved 4 February 2013.</ref> On 11 February 2010, the Global Hawks deployed in the Central Command AOR accrued 30,000 combat hours and 1,500 plus sorties.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sturkol |first1=Master Sgt. Scott T. |title=Deployed Global Hawks surpass 30,000 combat flying hours, 1,500 sorties |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/117596/deployed-global-hawks-surpass-30000-combat-flying-hours-1500-sorties/ |website=Air Force |publisher=United States Air Force |access-date=5 October 2023 |date=18 February 2010}}</ref>
Initial operational capability was declared for the RQ-4 Block 30 in August 2011.<ref name=USAF_fact_sheet/> The USAF did not plan to keep the RQ-4B Block 30 in service past 2014 due to the U-2 and other platforms being less expensive in the role.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-details-plan-to-halt-block-30-global-hawk-use-384901/ "USAF details plan to halt Block 30 Global Hawk use".] ''FlightGlobal'', 19 April 2013</ref> Congress sought to keep it in service until December 2016.<ref>[http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20130522/NEWS/305220020/Lawmakers-Keep-flying-Global-Hawk-Block-30-through-2016 "Lawmakers: Keep flying Global Hawk Block 30 through 2016".] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202141918/http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20130522/NEWS/305220020/Lawmakers-Keep-flying-Global-Hawk-Block-30-through-2016 |date=2 February 2014}} Militarytimes.com, 22 May 2013</ref> The USAF had 18 RQ-4 Block 30s by the time of the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which directed a further three RQ-4s to be procured as part of Lot 11. The USAF felt that additional aircraft were "excess to need" and likely become backup or attrition reserve models.<ref name="ReferenceD">{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-air-force-to-buy-additional-rq-4-global-hawk-block-30s-390501/ |title=US Air Force to buy additional RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30s |website=FlightGlobal |date=12 September 2013}}</ref>
Despite the potential retirement of the Block 30 fleet due to low reliability, low mission readiness, and high costs, the USAF released a pre-solicitation notice in September 2013 for Lot 12 aircraft.<ref name="ReferenceD"/> In planning the USAF's FY 2015 budget, the Pentagon reversed its previous decision, shifting $3 billion from the U-2 to the RQ-4 Block 30, which had become more competitive with the U-2 due to increased flying hours. Factors such as cost per flight hour (CPFH), information gathering rates, mission readiness, adverse weather operational capability, distance to targets, and onboard power still favored the U-2.<ref>[http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_01_20_2014_p24-654696.xml&p=1 "Global Hawk, U-2 Duel Resumes in ’15 Budget Fight"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202124350/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_01_20_2014_p24-654696.xml&p=1 |date=2 February 2014}}. ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', 20 January 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hemmerdinger |first=Jon |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysts-predict-a-10-u-2-retirements-in-fy15-395693/ |title=Analysts predict A-10, U-2 retirements in FY15 | News |publisher=Flight Global |date= |access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref>
After the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]], RQ-4s flew 300 hours over the affected areas in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Global Hawk invaluable after Japan disasters |author=Seth Robson |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/global-hawk-invaluable-after-japan-disasters-1.154890 |publisher=Stars and Stripes |date=12 September 2011}}</ref> There were also plans to survey the No. 4 reactor at the [[Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Military Helicopters Finally Dump Seawater on Over-Heating Fukushima Reactors |date=17 March 2011 |url=https://gizmodo.com/5782885/military-helicopters-finally-dump-seawater-on-over+heating-fukushima-reactors}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
By November 2012, Northrop Grumman had delivered 37 Global Hawks to the USAF.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.deagel.com/news/Northrop-Grumman-Delivers-37th-Global-Hawk-to-US-Air-Force_n000011115.aspx |title=Northrop Grumman Delivers 37th Global Hawk to US Air Force |___location=San Diego |website=Deagel.com |date=7 January 2013}}</ref> By March 2014, 42 Global Hawks were in use around the world, with 32 in use by the USAF.<ref>[https://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140319-912576.html Northrop Grumman Delivers Global Hawk Early and On Cost]. ''The Wall Street Journal'', 19 March 2014</ref>
The USAF stated that U-2 pilot and altitude advantages allow better functionality in the stormy weather and airspace restrictions of the East Asia region and its altitude and sensor advantages allow it to see further into hostile territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130624/C4ISR01/307010011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628023849/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130624/C4ISR01/307010011 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2013 |title=Will Congress Let the Air Force Abandon the Global Hawk? |work=Defense News |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> In October 2013, the U.S. secured basing rights to deploy RQ-4s from Japan, the first time that basing rights for the type had been secured in Northeast Asia. RQ-4s are stationed at [[Andersen Air Force Base]] in [[Guam]], but bad weather often curtailed flights. Basing in Japan as opposed to Guam enhances spying capabilities against [[North Korea]] by eliminating range as a factor.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2013/10/25432/agreement-will-allow-u-s-to-fly-long-range-surveillance-drones-from-base-in-japan/ Agreement will allow U.S. to fly long-range surveillance drones from base in Japan]. sUASNews.com, 4 October 2013</ref>
Two RQ-4s moved from Anderson AFB to [[Misawa Air Base]] in mid-2014 in the type's first deployment to Japan. They were speculated to have focused on maritime patrol missions.<ref>[http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140322/NEWS/303220028/Global-Hawk-deploy-Japan-first-time Global Hawk to deploy to Japan for first time] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325013922/http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140322/NEWS/303220028/Global-Hawk-deploy-Japan-first-time |date=25 March 2014}}. Militarytimes.com, 22 March 2014</ref> The two RQ-4s successfully performed their missions from Misawa AB during a six-month deployment, with none cancelled due to poor weather. It was the first time that they had operated out of a civil-military airport, sharing airspace and runways with commercial aircraft safely without additional restrictions, usually taking off and landing during quieter periods of air traffic. Officials only stated that they had operated at "various places around the Pacific."<ref>[http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/usaf-global-hawks-touch-down-after-japan-deploymen/ USAF Global Hawks touch down after Japan deployment]. Shephardmedia.com, 20 October 2014</ref>
On 19 September 2013, the RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk conducted its first wartime flight from [[Grand Forks Air Force Base]].<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/block-40-global-hawk-goes-to-war-usaf-393391/ Block 40 Global Hawk goes to 'war': USAF]. ''FlightGlobal'', 21 November 2013</ref>
In November 2013, an USAF RQ-4 deployed to the Philippines after [[Typhoon Haiyan]] to assist in relief efforts. It flew from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam to relay imagery of afflicted areas to response personnel and ground commanders.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2014/01/26886/northrop-global-hawk-uav-deployed-to-assist-philippine-typhoon-relief/ Northrop Global Hawk UAV Deployed to Assist Philippine Typhoon Relief]. sUASNews.com, 10 January 2014</ref>
In planning for the FY 2015 budget, the U-2 was to be retired in favor of the RQ-4, made possible by reductions of RQ-4 operating costs and would be the first time an uncrewed aircraft would completely replace a crewed aircraft.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/how-hagel-spending-plan-will-transform-us-military-396320/ "How Hagel spending plan will transform US military".] ''FlightGlobal'', 26 February 2014</ref> The U-2 will continue to fly through 2018 without replacement.<ref>[http://aviationweek.com/defense/2016-budget-bring-u-2-stay-execution "2016 Budget To Bring U-2 Stay Of Execution".] ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', 14 January 2015</ref>
In May 2014, a U.S. Global Hawk conducted a surveillance mission over Nigeria as part of the search for the [[2014 Chibok kidnapping|kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls]]. The Global Hawk joined [[Beechcraft C-12 Huron|MC-12]] crewed aircraft in the search.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2014/05/29217/u-s-global-hawk-drone-joins-search-for-kidnapped-nigerian-schoolgirls/ "U.S. ‘Global Hawk’ Drone Joins Search for Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls".] susaNews.com, 14 May 2014</ref>
The Global Hawk was used in [[Operation Inherent Resolve]] (OIR) against the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL). The aircraft provided real-time imagery and signals intelligence to identify friendly and enemy forces, do long-term target development, and track enemy equipment movement, enabling combatant commanders to act on better information and make key decisions. The BACN version allowed ground troops to contact aircraft when they were in need of assistance, such as [[close air support]].<ref name="dvids24sept15"/>
On 11 November 2015, an EQ-4 became the first Global Hawk aircraft to reach 500 [[sortie]]s. All three EQ-4s in operation supported OIR. Upon landing, maintainers could complete ground maintenance and make the aircraft mission ready again within five hours. Missions could last up to 30 hours, with each aircraft getting a "day off" in between combat flights.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2015/11/39944/uav-reaches-new-milestone-in-fight-against-daesh/ UAV reaches new milestone in fight against Daesh]. sUASNews.com, 14 November 2015</ref> On 1 April 2017, the EQ-4 program completed 1,000 continuous sorties, without incurring a single maintenance cancellation, while supporting OIR.<ref>[https://www.beale.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1139118/1000-and-counting-deployed-maintainers-fight-isis-with-global-hawk-consistency/ "1000 and counting: deployed maintainers fight ISIS with Global Hawk consistency"]. AF.mil, 2 April 2017</ref>
On 4 April 2016, it was reported that a USAF Global Hawk had completed its third flight over Germany under an initiative (the European Reassurance Initiative) to reassure [[NATO]] members concerned over the [[Russo-Ukrainian war]]. Germany opened its airspace for up to five Global Hawk flights a month until the middle of October 2016. The [[Naval Air Station Sigonella]], [[Sicily]]-based Global Hawk flies over Italian and French airspace and an air corridor through Germany with its sensors switched off on its way to its area of operations over the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://aviationweek.com/defense/germany-opens-airspace-global-hawk-flights? |title=Germany Opens Airspace For Global Hawk Flights |date=5 April 2016|magazine=Aviation Week}}</ref>
In 2017, the USAF decided to begin the process of training enlisted airmen to fly the RQ-4 due to a shortage of pilots and an increased demand for the Global Hawk's capabilities. The RQ-4 is currently the only aircraft enlisted pilots are flying.<ref>[https://www.dvidshub.net/news/239882/enlisted-soar-new-heights "Enlisted Soar to New Heights".] dvidshub.net, 29 June 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.dvidshub.net/news/245362/enlisted-pilots-complete-check-ride "Enlisted Pilots Complete Check Ride".] dvidshub.net, 19 August 2017</ref>
On 16 August 2018, a Global Hawk, assigned to [[12th Reconnaissance Squadron]], took off from Beale AFB, California, and landed at [[Eielson Air Force Base]], Alaska for [[Red Flag – Alaska]]. This was the first time an RQ-4 had landed in [[Alaska]] during a simulated combat training exercise.<ref>[https://www.dvidshub.net/news/289345/global-hawk-makes-historic-first-landing-red-flag-alaska "Global Hawk Makes Historic First Landing at RED FLAG-Alaska".] dvidshub.net, 17 August 2018</ref>
On 21 April 2021, a Global Hawk was reported to have made a reconnaissance flight in an airspace off the coast of southern [[Crimea]] which Russia had temporarily closed up to {{convert|19000|m|ft}} from [[Sevastopol]] to [[Feodosiya]], issuing a relevant [[NOTAM]].<ref name="interfax">{{cite news |url= https://www.interfax.ru/russia/762405 |title=Дрон США провел полет в закрытом воздушном районе у берегов Крыма|agency=[[Interfax]]|language=Russian |date=21 April 2021 |accessdate= 21 April 2021}}</ref> The Global Hawk reportedly departed from Naval Air Station Sigonella on [[Sicily]].<ref name="interfax"/>
On 22 February 2022, a Global Hawk was reported to have made a reconnaissance flight over Southeastern [[Ukraine]] coinciding with a NOTAM order by Ukrainian government and increased Russian military activity. The Global Hawk departed from Naval Air Station Sigonella on Sicily.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news |url= https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-air-force-spy-plane-takes-spotlight-in-empty-ukraine-airspace-2782821 |title=US Air Force Spy Plane Takes Spotlight In Empty Ukraine Airspace |agency=[[NDTV]] |date=22 February 2022 |accessdate= 22 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-air-force-spy-plane-takes-spotlight-empty-ukraine-airspace-2022-02-22/|title=U.S. Air Force spy plane takes spotlight in empty Ukraine airspace |first1=Tom |last1=Sims |date=22 February 2022 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref>
====Records====
On 24 April 2001, a Global Hawk flew non-stop from [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards AFB]] to [[RAAF Base Edinburgh]] in [[Australia]], making history by being the first pilotless aircraft to cross the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The flight took 22 hours, and set a world record for absolute distance flown by a UAV, {{convert|13219.86|km|mi|sp=us}}.<ref name="aumod_20010424">"[http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Nelsontpl.cfm?CurrentId=628 Aviation history as Global Hawk completes US–Australia flight] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429063959/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Nelsontpl.cfm?CurrentId=628|date=29 April 2005}}." [[Australian Ministry of Defence]] press release. 24 April 2001</ref>
On 22 March 2008, a Global Hawk set the endurance record for full-scale, operational uncrewed aircraft UAVs by flying for 33.1 hours at altitudes up to 60,000 feet over Edwards AFB.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Northrop_Grumman_Global_Hawk_Unmanned_Aircraft_Sets_33_Hour_Flight_Endurance_Record_999.html |title=Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft Sets 33-Hour Flight Endurance Record |work=spacewar.com |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>
From its first flight in 1998 to 9 September 2013, the combined Global Hawk fleet flew 100,000 hours. 88 percent of flights were conducted by USAF RQ-4s, while the remaining hours were flown by [[NASA]] Global Hawks, the EuroHawk, the Navy BAMS demonstrator, and the MQ-4C Triton. Approximately 75 percent of flights were in combat zones; RQ-4s flew in operations over Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya; and supported disaster response efforts in Haiti, Japan, and California.<ref name=100K_flt_hrs>[http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/northrop-grumman-unmanned-aircraft-systems-achieve-100000-flight-hours-l-photos/ "Northrop Grumman Unmanned Aircraft Systems Achieve 100,000 Flight Hours".] Defensemedianetwork.com, 13 September 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.northropgrumman.com/MediaResources/Pages/NewsArticle.aspx?art=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/xml/nitf.html?d=10047896 "Northrop Grumman Unmanned Portfolio Achieves 100,000 Flight Hours Over Last 15 Years".] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202184159/http://www.northropgrumman.com/MediaResources/Pages/NewsArticle.aspx?art=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irconnect.com%2Fnoc%2Fpress%2Fxml%2Fnitf.html%3Fd%3D10047896 |date=2 February 2014}} Northrop Grumman news release, 9 September 2013</ref>
From 10 to 16 September 2014, the RQ-4 fleet flew a total of 781 hours, the most hours flown by the type during a single week. 87 percent of flights were made by USAF RQ-4s, with the rest flown by the Navy BAMS-D and NASA hurricane research aircraft.<ref>[http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/rq-4-global-hawk-other-hale-uas-series-variants-fl/ "Global Hawk flies record mission hours".] Shephardmedia.com, 9 January 2015</ref>
The longest Global Hawk combat sortie lasted 32.5 hours.<ref name="dvids24sept15"/>
==== Downing by Iran ====
{{main|2019 Iranian shoot-down of American drone}}
On 19 June 2019, a U.S. Navy BAMS-D RQ-4A from NAS Patuxent River flying over the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by a [[Sevom Khordad|3rd Khordad]] surface-to-air missile fired from near [[Garuk, Hormozgan|Garuk]], Iran.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/iran-knocked-out-sky-very-special-us-drone-and-exposed-key-weakness-63577|title= Iran Knocked Out of the Sky a Very Special U.S. Drone (And Exposed a Key Weakness)|newspaper= The National Interest|date= 20 June 2019|last1= Axe|first1= David}}</ref> Iranian Foreign Minister [[Mohammad Javad Zarif|Javad Zarif]] said that the drone had been in Iranian airspace,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1141772824086028288 |title=Zarif says we've retrieved sections of the US military drone in OUR territorial waters where it was shot down |date=20 June 2019 |via=[[Twitter]] |access-date=20 June 2019}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2022}}</ref> while the United States maintained that the drone was in [[airspace|international airspace]] 18 [[nautical mile]]s (34 [[Kilometre|km]]) away from Iran.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1TL07U |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620210650/https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1TL07U |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2019 |title=Trump says Iran may have shot down U.S. drone by mistake |date=20 June 2019 |work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/iran-shoots-american-drone-international-airspace-us-official/story?id=63825990 |title=Trump says Iranian shootdown of US military drone may have been a 'mistake' |last1=Martinez |first1=Luis |last2=McLaughlin |first2=Elizabeth |last3=McGraw |first3=Meridith |date=20 June 2019 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref>
===NASA===
[[File:NASA Dryden Global Hawk.jpg|thumb|A Global Hawk at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center]]
In December 2007, two Global Hawks were transferred from the USAF to [[NASA]]'s [[Dryden Flight Research Center]] at Edwards AFB. Initial research activities beginning in the second quarter of 2009 supported NASA's high-altitude, long-duration Earth science missions.<ref name=dfrc1>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/aircraft/GlobalHawk/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302063302/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/aircraft/GlobalHawk/index.html|url-status=dead|title=NASA DFRC web description of aircraft|archive-date=2 March 2009}}</ref><ref name=fg0123/> The two Global Hawks were the first and sixth aircraft built under the original DARPA Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program, and were made available to NASA when the Air Force had no further need for them.<ref name="NASA Global Hawk">{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=24341 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104182141/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=24341 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 |title=NASA Dryden Receives Two Early Global Hawk Aircraft |work=spaceref.com |date=20 December 2007 |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> Northrop Grumman is an operational partner with NASA and will use the aircraft to demonstrate new technologies and to develop new markets for the aircraft, including possible civilian uses.<ref name=fg0123>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/22/321498/northrop-plans-civilian-market-global-hawk-demonstrations.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210135852/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/22/321498/northrop-plans-civilian-market-global-hawk-demonstrations.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 February 2009 |title=Northrop plans civilian market Global Hawk demonstrations |author=Reed Business Information Limited |work=FlightGlobal |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>
It was reported in the March 2010 issue of ''[[Scientific American]]''<!-- (pp. 25–27) --> that NASA's Global Hawks were to begin scientific missions that month, and had been undergoing tests in late 2009. Initial science applications included measurements of the ozone layer and cross-Pacific transport of air pollutants and aerosols. The author of the Scientific American article speculates that it could be used for Antarctic exploration while being based in Chile. In August–September 2010, one of the two Global Hawks was loaned for NASA's GRIP (Genesis and Rapid Intensification Program) mission.<ref name="NASA GRIP Homepage">{{cite web |url=http://grip.nsstc.nasa.gov/ |title=GRIP |work=nasa.gov |access-date=1 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030174641/http://grip.nsstc.nasa.gov/ |archive-date=30 October 2011}}</ref>
Its long-term on station capabilities and long range made it a suitable aircraft for monitoring the development of Atlantic basin [[Tropical cyclone|hurricanes]]. It was modified to equip weather sensors including [[Ku-band]] radar, lightning sensors and [[dropsonde]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/predict/meetings/2009/presentations/GRIP_aircraft.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/predict/meetings/2009/presentations/GRIP_aircraft.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=GRIP Global Hawk Modifications and Capabilities}}</ref> It successfully flew into [[Hurricane Earl (2010)|Hurricane Earl]] off the United States East Coast on 2 September 2010.<ref name="NASA GRIP News Hurricane Earl News Release">[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/missions/grip/news/GRIPHistoricFlight.html "Hurricane Earl News Release"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906232005/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/missions/grip/news/GRIPHistoricFlight.html |date=6 September 2010}}. NASA GRIP News</ref>
===NATO===
{{main|Alliance Ground Surveillance Force}}
In 2009, [[NATO]] announced that it expected to have a fleet of up to eight Global Hawks by 2012 to be equipped with MP-RTIP radar systems. NATO had budgeted US$1.4 billion (€1 billion) for the project, and a letter of intent was signed.<ref name=fg090114>Trimble, Stephen. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/14/321090/nato-plans-to-deploy-first-rq-4s-in-2012.html "NATO plans to deploy first RQ-4s in 2012"]. ''Flight International'', 14 January 2009.</ref> NATO signed a contract for five Block 40 Global Hawks in May 2012.<ref>Hoyle, Craig. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/nato-inks-17-billion-global-hawk-order-372113/ "NATO inks $1.7 billion Global Hawk order"]. ''Flight International'', 21 May 2012.</ref> 12 NATO members are participating in the purchase. On 10 January 2014, [[Estonia]] revealed it wanted to participate in NATO Global Hawk usage.{{cn|date=February 2022}} In July 2017, the USAF assigned the Mission Designation Series (MDS) of RQ-4D to the NATO AGS air vehicle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.difesa.it/SGD-DNA/Staff/DT/ARMAEREO/Biblioteca/2Categoria/Documents/AER_EP_00-00-5_RQ-4D.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.difesa.it/SGD-DNA/Staff/DT/ARMAEREO/Biblioteca/2Categoria/Documents/AER_EP_00-00-5_RQ-4D.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=NATO AGS RQ-4D AIR SEGMENT AND PILOT TRAINER CONFIGURATION CONTROL. PREPARATION, ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL OF CONFIGURATION CHANGES FOR THE CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS IMPLEMENTATION |website=Ministero Della Difesa |access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref>
The first RQ-4D aircraft arrived at Sigonella Air Base on 21 November 2019. At that time, all five aircraft were undergoing developmental test flights. Initial operational capability was expected in the first half of 2020.<ref name="NATOFirstDelivery">{{cite web |url= https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_171171.htm |title= First NATO AGS remotely piloted aircraft ferries to Main Operating Base in Italy |publisher= North Atlantic Treaty Organization |access-date= 22 November 2019}}</ref>
In October 2018, Italy certified five of the drones for use in [[Sigonella]], [[Sicily]] in 2020. However, by 23 December 2019, there were regulatory issues for the Global Hawks concerning shared space between [[Germany]] and Italy. German government officials criticized the new drones for their lack of technology to avoid collisions with other aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sprenger |first1=Sebastian |title=New NATO surveillance drones bet on Italian safety ruling |url=https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nato-2020-defined/2019/12/22/new-nato-surveillance-drones-bet-on-italian-safety-ruling/ |website=DefenseNews |date=22 December 2019 |access-date=24 December 2019}}</ref>
===South Korea===
In 2011, [[South Korea]]'s [[Defense Acquisition Program Administration]] (DAPA) expressed interest in acquiring at least four RQ-4Bs to increase intelligence capabilities following the exchange of the Wartime Operational Control from the U.S. to the Republic of Korea. Officials debated on the topic of the Global Hawks and domestic UAV programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2011/03/08/18/0301000000AEN20110308008600315F.HTML |title=S. Korea vows swifter deployment of spy drones, stealth fighters |work=yonhapnews.co.kr |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> In September 2011, the US and South Korea discussed aircraft deployments near its land border to view North Korea and the North Korea–China border.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://airforceworld.com/heli/eng/rq4.htm |title=US RQ-4A Global Hawk UAV |publisher=airforceworld.com |access-date=1 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619032512/http://www.airforceworld.com/heli/eng/rq4.htm |archive-date=19 June 2013}}</ref>
In January 2012, DAPA announced that it would not proceed with a purchase due to a price rise from US$442M to US$899M, and that other platforms such as the [[AeroVironment Global Observer]] or the [[Boeing Phantom Eye]] were being investigated.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seoul drops plan to buy Global Hawk UAV |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/01/205_103512.html |author=Lee, Tae-hoon |newspaper=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> However, in December 2012, South Korea notified Congress of a possible [[Foreign Military Sales|Foreign Military Sale]] of 4 RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawks with the Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=1200000000|start_year=2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref>[http://www.deagel.com/news/FMS-South-Korea-Seeks-Four-RQ-4-Block-30-Global-Hawks_n000011097.aspx "South Korea Seeks Four RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawks"]. Deagel.com, 24 December 2012.</ref> On 5 July 2013, the Korean National Assembly advised the government to re-evaluate the RQ-4 purchase, again citing high costs.<ref>[http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130705000594 "Parliament advises review of Taurus, Global Hawk acquisition plan".] ''The Korea Herald'', 5 July 2013</ref>
On 17 December 2014, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $657 million contract by South Korea for four RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawks.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/seoul-finalises-657-million-global-hawk-purchase-407211/ "Seoul finalises $657 million Global Hawk purchase".] ''FlightGlobal'', 17 December 2014.</ref><ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/adex-northrop-on-track-with-koreas-rq-4b-producti-417969/ "ADEX: Northrop on track with Korea’s RQ-4B production"]. ''FlightGlobal'', 20 October 2015.</ref> The first RQ-4 arrived on 23 December 2019 at a base near [[Sacheon]].<ref name="FlightGlobal20191222">{{cite web |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/global-hawk-arrival-to-bolster-seouls-isr-capabilities/135914.article |title= Global Hawk arrival to bolster Seoul's ISR capabilities |work= FlightGlobal |date= 22 December 2019 |access-date= 23 December 2019}}</ref> The second arrived on 19 April 2020, and the third by June. The fourth and final Global Hawk was delivered in September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=15 October 2020|title=US delivers fourth and final RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV to RoKAF|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-delivers-fourth-and-final-rq-4-global-hawk-uav-to-rokaf|access-date=|website=[[Janes Information Services]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319214819/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-delivers-fourth-and-final-rq-4-global-hawk-uav-to-rokaf|archive-date=19 March 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Japan===
On 24 August 2013, [[Japan]] announced that the [[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]] planned to operate one Global Hawk jointly with the U.S. by 2015.{{cn|date=February 2022}} On 21 November 2014, the [[Ministry of Defense (Japan)|Japanese Ministry of Defense]] officially decided to procure the Global Hawk instead of the General Atomics [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|Guardian ER]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141121/DEFREG03/311210023/Japan-Officially-Selects-Osprey-Global-Hawk-E-2D |title=Japan Officially Selects Osprey, Global Hawk, E-2D |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=22 November 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141122175404/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141121/DEFREG03/311210023/Japan-Officially-Selects-Osprey-Global-Hawk-E-2D |url-status=dead}}</ref> Japan has also been interested in the purchase of three aircraft.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/japan/2010/10/05/275048/Japan-may.htm "Japan may buy US drones to spy on China military"] 5 October 2010, ''The China Post of Taiwan''</ref> The first Japanese Global Hawk landed at [[Misawa Air Base]] on 12 March 2022.<ref>[https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/march/8275-northrop-grumman-completes-ferry-flight-of-japanese-rq-4b-global-hawk.html Northrop Grumman completes ferry flight of Japanese RQ-4B Global Hawk] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314144124/https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/march/8275-northrop-grumman-completes-ferry-flight-of-japanese-rq-4b-global-hawk.html |date=14 March 2022}}. ''Air Recognition''. 14 March 2022.</ref>
===Potential operators===
[[Australia]] considered the purchase of a number of Global Hawks for maritime and land surveillance. The Global Hawk was to be assessed against the [[MQ-9 Reaper#SeaGuardian|General Atomics MQ-9 Mariner]] in trials in 2007.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/05/09/Navigation/177/206472/Australia+funds+study.html Australia funds study]. Flight International 09/05/06.</ref> The Global Hawk aircraft would have operated in conjunction with crewed [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon]] aircraft, as a replacement of aging [[Lockheed AP-3C Orion]] aircraft. In the end, the Australian government decided not to proceed and canceled the order.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120716052839/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/03/2505653.htm?section=australia Govt scraps plan for military drones]". ABC news</ref> In 2012, a procurement effort for seven UAVs by 2019 was initiated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-09-04/australia-moves-to-buy-3b-spy-drone-fleet/1010380 |title=Australia moves to buy $3b spy drone fleet |publisher=radioaustralia.net.au |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> In May 2013 the Australian government confirmed its interest in acquiring the MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance variant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2013/05/australia-issues-triton-letter-of-request/ |title=Australia issues Triton Letter of Request |date=16 May 2013 |publisher=australianaviation.com.au |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>
[[Canada]] has also been a potential customer, looking at the Global Hawk for maritime and land surveillance as either a replacement for its fleet of [[Lockheed CP-140 Aurora]] patrol aircraft or to supplement crewed patrols of remote Arctic and maritime environments, before withdrawing from the joint effort in August 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last=Trimble |first=Stephen |title=AUVSI: Canada withdraws from NATO RQ-4 program |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/08/18/360927/auvsi-canada-withdraws-from-nato-rq-4-program.html |access-date=18 August 2011 |work=FlightGlobal |date=18 August 2011}}</ref> [[Spain]] has a similar requirement, and has existing contacts with Northrop Grumman.<ref>[http://www.cincodias.com/articulo/empresas/Northrop/negocia/venta/aviones/espia/Espana/cdscdi/20070929cdscdiemp_15/Tes/ Northrop negocia la venta de diez aviones espía a España] ''Cinco Días''</ref>
The [[New Zealand Defence Force]] is studying the Global Hawk, which has the range to conduct surveillance in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, and in the Pacific Islands. The acquisition process has not moved beyond an expression of interest.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gower |first=Patrick |title=Spy drones on NZ defence wish list |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |publisher=[[APN News & Media]] |date=2009-09-30 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10600341 |access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref>
The [[Indian Navy]] has expressed interest in acquiring six to eight MQ-4C Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft Systems.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.india-defence.com/reports-5002 |title=Indian Navy Interested in Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft Systems |work=India Defence |date=8 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1139257 |title=India will purchase the MQ-4C BAMS drone aircraft |date=2012-04-02}}</ref>
In September 2018, [[Transport Canada]] was looking into buying a former German Air Force EuroHawk for surveillance missions in the Arctic. The EuroHawk cannot currently fly and has no equipment inside such as GPS and navigation tools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenseworld.net/news/23410/Germany_Plans_to_Sell_Euro_Hawk_Surveillance_Drone_without_Core_Components_to_Canada |title=Germany Plans to Sell Euro Hawk Surveillance Drone without Core Components to Canada |website=defenseworld.net |access-date=26 September 2018 |archive-date=26 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926051955/http://www.defenseworld.net/news/23410/Germany_Plans_to_Sell_Euro_Hawk_Surveillance_Drone_without_Core_Components_to_Canada |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/drone-arctic-transport-canada-1.4838364 |title=Transport Canada looking at used German drone to patrol Arctic |first1=Murray |last1=Brewster |date=25 September 2018 |publisher=CBC News}}</ref>
==Variants==
[[File:16 19 133 global hawk.jpg|thumb|RQ-4A on display at the [[Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins)|Museum of Aviation]], [[Robins AFB]]]]
;RQ-4A: Initial production version for the USAF, 16 built.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/list-of-uav-serial-numbers-1950/ |title=List of UAV serial numbers |date=1 October 2012 |website=[[MuckRock]]}}</ref>
;RQ-4B: Improved version with increased payload, wingspan increased to {{convert|130.9|ft|m|abbr=on}} and length increased to {{convert|47.7|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Due to the increased size and payload the range is reduced to {{convert|8,700|nmi|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=13225 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028210413/http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=13225 |title=Factsheets: RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System: RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System |archive-date=28 October 2008 |work=af.mil |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref>
;RQ-4D Phoenix: NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS).
;RQ-4E Euro Hawk: Version for the Bundeswehr based on RQ-4B and equipped with an EADS reconnaissance payload for SIGINT. Germany canceled its order in May 2013; it received one of five Euro Hawks originally ordered.<ref name=EuroHawk_halt/>
; [[Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton|MQ-4C Triton]]
: For USN Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) role; previously known as the ''RQ-4N''; 4 ordered, 68 total planned.<ref>[https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fflotprom.ru%2Fnews%2F%3FELEMENT_ID%3D109958&act=url "Roll-out of a marine UAV Global Hawk will be held in June"] (Automatically translated into English by Google)</ref>
;EQ-4B
: Equipped with the [[Battlefield Airborne Communications Node]] (BACN) system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=237039 |title=U.S. Air Force Officially Designates Aircraft Flying Battlefield Airborne Communications Node System |work=irconnect.com |access-date=1 April 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
;[[KQ-X]]
: Proposed autonomous tanker variant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://defensetech.org/2011/03/09/darpa-testing-global-hawk-drones-as-aerial-tankers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310090317/http://defensetech.org/2011/03/09/darpa-testing-global-hawk-drones-as-aerial-tankers/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=10 March 2011 |title=DARPA Testing Global Hawk Drones As Aerial Tankers |work=defensetech.org |date=9 March 2011 |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19871063 "Unstaffed drone refuelling test 'successful'"]. BBC News Technology</ref>
;Model 396
: [[Scaled Composites]] and Northrop Grumman also offered an armed, 50% smaller version of the RQ-4A, known as the '''Scaled Composites Model 396''', as part of the [[USAF Hunter-Killer]] program. The aircraft was rejected in favor of the [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]].
==Operators==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
{{For|operators of the naval variant|Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton}}
[[File:Global Hawk, NASA's New Remote-Controlled Plane - October 2009.jpg|thumb|A NASA Global Hawk in flight]]
;{{ROK}}
* '''[[Republic of Korea Air Force]]''' – Ordered 4 in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/seoul-finalises-657-million-global-hawk-purchase-407211/ |title=Seoul finalises $657 million Global Hawk purchase |first=Craig |last=Hoyle |date=17 December 2014 |website=FlightGlobal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-to-start-production-on-republic-of-korea-global-hawks |title=Northrop Grumman to Start Production on Republic of Korea Global Hawks |website=Northrop Grumman Newsroom |access-date=2 December 2018 |archive-date=7 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507015516/https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-to-start-production-on-republic-of-korea-global-hawks |url-status=dead }}</ref> First aircraft delivered on 23 December 2019.<ref name="FlightGlobal20191222" />
;{{JAP}}
* '''[[Japan Air Self-Defense Force]]''' – Ordered 3 in November 2018, to be delivered by 1 September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Stephen |title=Japan issues contract to purchaser RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drones |url=https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2018/11/20/Japan-issues-contract-to-purchaser-RQ-4-Global-Hawk-surveillance-drones/3111542721963/ |website=United Press International |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120172414/https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2018/11/20/Japan-issues-contract-to-purchaser-RQ-4-Global-Hawk-surveillance-drones/3111542721963/ |archive-date=20 November 2018 |date=20 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Gareth |title=Japan signs for three Global Hawk UAVs |url=https://www.janes.com/article/84703/japan-signs-for-three-global-hawk-uavs |website=IHS Jane's 360 |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120140521/https://www.janes.com/article/84703/japan-signs-for-three-global-hawk-uavs |archive-date=20 November 2018 |___location=London |date=20 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The purchase was made under a contract worth $USD1.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/2021/08/indo-pacific-uav-directory-2021/ |title=Indo Pacific UAV Directory 2021 |publisher=Asian Military Review |date= 12 August 2021|access-date=2022-02-22}}</ref>
;{{flag|NATO}}
* '''[[Alliance Ground Surveillance]]''' – Ordered 5 aircraft, first delivered 21 November 2019.<ref name="NATOFirstDelivery"/>
;{{USA}}
* '''[[United States Air Force]]'''
**[[Air Combat Command]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Units |url=https://www.acc.af.mil/Units/ |access-date=2022-02-11 |website=acc.af.mil}}</ref>{{Specify |reason=Source web page does not list which units operate RQ-4s.|date=February 2022}}
***[[Grand Forks Air Force Base|319th Reconnaissance Wing]] – [[Grand Forks Air Force Base]], [[North Dakota]]
****[[319th Operations Group]]
*****[[4th Reconnaissance Squadron]] – Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
*****[[397th Bombardment Squadron|7th Reconnaissance Squadron]] – Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy
*****[[12th Reconnaissance Squadron]] – Beale Air Force Base, California
***** [[348th Bombardment Squadron|348th Reconnaissance Squadron]] – Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota
*** [[53d Wing]]
**** [[53d Test and Evaluation Group]]
***** [[31st Test and Evaluation Squadron]] – [[Edwards Air Force Base]], California
** [[Air Force Reserve Command]]
*** [[940th Wing]] – [[Beale Air Force Base]], California
**** [[940th Operations Group]]
***** [[13th Reconnaissance Squadron]] – [[Beale Air Force Base]], California
** [[380th Expeditionary Operations Group]] – [[Al Dhafra AB]], [[United Arab Emirates]] since early 2002
*** RQ-4B (Block 30), RQ-4B (Block 40), EQ-4B (BACN), RQ-4A (BAMS-D)
* '''[[NASA]]'''
** [[Dryden Flight Research Center]]
==Accidents and notable incidents==
* 29 March 1999: USAF RQ-4A 95-2002 crashed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/216563|title=Incident RQ-4A Global Hawk 95-2002, 29 Mar 1999|first=Harro|last=Ranter|website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref> at China Lake Naval Weapons Center.
* 30 Dec 2001: USAF RQ-4A 98-2005 crashed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/75390|title=Incident Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk (Block 10 pro 98-2005, 30 Dec 2001|first=Harro|last=Ranter|website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref> while returning to al-Dhafra Air Base, UAE.
* 10 Jul 2002: USAF RQ-4A 98-2004 crashed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/149109|title=Incident Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk 98-2004, 10 Jul 2002|first=Harro|last=Ranter|website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref> near Shamsi AB, Pakistan due to engine failure.
* 21 August 2011: USAF EQ-4B crashed southeast of [[Jalalabad]], Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/isaf-confirms-2011-global-hawk-crash-368257/ |title=ISAF confirms 2011 Global Hawk crash |work=Flight International |date=14 February 2012 |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
* 11 June 2012: USN RQ-4A assigned to the Navy's BAMS program crashed near [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]], Maryland, US.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/11/us/maryland-drone-crash/index.html |title=Navy drone crashes in Maryland |publisher=CNN |date=11 June 2012 |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
* 21 June 2017: USAF RQ-4B crashed near [[Lone Pine, California]], US.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196253 |title=Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk, 21 Jun 2017 |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |date=21 June 2017 |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
* 26 June 2018: USAF RQ-4B crashed into the sea off [[Naval Station Rota, Spain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.usni.org/2018/09/06/exclusive-photo-crashed-123m-rq-4-air-force-drone-fished-atlantic |title=Exclusive Photo: Crashed $123M RQ-4 Air Force Drone Fished Out of the Atlantic |publisher=USNI News |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
* 20 June 2019: An RQ-4A aircraft was [[2019 Iranian shoot-down of American drone|shot down]] by the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] (IRGC), near [[Mogh-e Qanbareh-ye Kuh Mobarak]] in [[Hormozgan province]], using the [[Sevom Khordad]] air defense missile system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/STATEMENTS/Statements-View/Article/1881682/us-central-command-statement-iranians-shoot-down-us-drone/ |title=U.S. Central Command Statement: Iranians shoot down U.S. drone |publisher=U.S. Central Command |date= |access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref>
* August 2021: USAF RQ-4B crashed near Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, US.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.airforcemag.com/rq-4-air-force-drone-crash-north-dakota/ |title=RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashes in North Dakota |newspaper=Air Force Magazine |date=6 August 2021 |access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref>
<!-- This section is ONLY for aviation accidents, not combat losses, etc.. -->
==Specifications (RQ-4B Block 30/40)==
[[File:RQ-4A VS RQ-4B.png|thumb|Size comparison for the RQ-4A and RQ-4B models]]
{{aircraft specs
|ref= Northrop Grumman<ref name="northropgrumman.com">{{cite web |title=Global Hawk |url=http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/GlobalHawk/Pages/default.aspx |website=northropgrumman.com |access-date=15 April 2017 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416074003/http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/globalhawk/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> USAF<ref name=USAF_fact_sheet/>
|prime units?=imp
|crew= 0 onboard (3 remote: Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) pilot; Mission Control Element (MCE) pilot and sensor operator)
|capacity={{cvt|3000|lb|kg|sigfig=3}}
|length m=14.5
|length ft=47.6
|length in=
|span m=
|span ft=130.9
|span in=
|width m=
|width ft=
|width in=
|height m=
|height ft=15.3
|height in=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=14,950
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=32,250
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Rolls-Royce F137-RR-100]]
|eng1 type= [[turbofan]] engine
|eng1 kn=
|eng1 lbf=7,600
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=
|max speed kmh= 629
|max speed mph= 391
|cruise speed kmh=570
|cruise speed mph=357
|range km= <!-- 22,780 -->
|range nmi=12,300
|range miles=<!--14,154 -->
|endurance=34+ hours
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=60,000
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|armament1=
|armament2=
|armament3=
|armament4=
|armament5=
|armament6=
|lift to drag=33<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/unmanned-air-vehicles-global-leader/35917.article |title=Unmanned Air Vehicles – Global leader|work= [[FlightGlobal]] |year= 2001}}</ref>
}}
==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|see also=
* [[KQ-X]]
* [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]
* [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle]]
|related=
* [[Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[EADS Talarion]]
* [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper]]
* [[Lockheed Martin RQ-3 DarkStar]]
* [[Guizhou WZ-7]]
|lists=
* [[List of active United States military aircraft]]
}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* ''This article contains material that originally came from the web article ''{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110902194407/http://www.vectorsite.net/twuav.html Unmanned Aerial Vehicles]}}'' by Greg Goebel, which is public ___domain.''
==External links==
{{Commons|Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk}}
{{externalimage|topic=Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk Block 10 Cutaway |width= |float=right |image1=[http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/militaryaviation1946-2006cutaways/images/14167/northrop-grumman-rq-4a-global-hawk-block-10.jpg Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk Block 10 cutaway from] [[Flightglobal.com]]}}
* [https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104516/rq-4-global-hawk/ RQ-4 Global Hawk U.S. Air Force fact sheet]
* [http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/global_hawk.htm "RQ-4A Global Hawk (Tier II+ HAE UAV)"]. [[Federation of American Scientists]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060213134011/http://www.defense-update.com/products/g/globalhawk.htm "Global Hawk RQ-4A-B High Altitude Long Endurance UAV"]. [[Defense Update]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051126003116/http://raytheon.com/products/globalhawk_iss/ Raytheon product page on the Global Hawk Integrated Sensor Suite]
* [http://www.luftwaffe.de/portal/a/luftwaffe/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP3I5EyrpHK9nHK98sS0NL3E0rTsHL3U0oxE_YJsR0UACwjUTQ!!/ Luftwaffe Euro Hawk page], [http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLd4x3DzUFSYGYhm5--pEwsaCUVH1fj_zcVH1v_QD9gtyIckdHRUUAIAkB_w!!/delta/base64xml/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS80SVVFLzZfQV9HVTU!?yw_contentURL=%2FC1256EF4002AED30%2FW26P8CGE983INFODE%2Fcontent.jsp Bundeswehr Euro Hawk page]
* [http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/docs/n19991223_992288.htm Results of Global Hawk accident investigation board] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329061646/http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/docs/n19991223_992288.htm |date=29 March 2008}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080629204346/http://www.air-attack.com/page/54/RQ-4-Global-Hawk.html RQ-4 Global Hawk profile on Air Attack]
{{Grumman aircraft}}
{{Scaled Composites}}
{{Q-UAVs}}
[[Category:Northrop Grumman aircraft|RQ-004 Global Hawk]]
[[Category:1990s United States military reconnaissance aircraft]]
[[Category:Unmanned military aircraft of the United States]]
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:V-tail aircraft]]
[[Category:Signals intelligence]]
[[Category:Synthetic aperture radar]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1998]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]
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