RQ-4 Global Hawk
IOC: 2001
Total Production: 59
Total Program's Cost: USD$9.8 billion
RQ-4A Global Hawk
Production: 16
Unitary Cost: USD$35 million
Also Known As
RQ-4 Block 10 Global Hawk
Origin
United States of America
Contractor/s
Northrop Grumman
Applications
AN/MSQ-131
Family Members
Euro Hawk
RQ-4B Global Hawk
RQ-4N BAMS
Power plant:
AE 3007
Sensors & Communications:
AN/APX-100(V)
ASIP
ISS
Protection Systems:
AN/ALR-89
Other:
AN/MSQ-131
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Description:
The RQ-4A Global Hawk has been designed to carry out high altitude, long endurance surveillance missions replacing the U-2. It provides near-real time high resolution imagery of large geographic areas containing information about enemy resources, location and personnel. To achieve worldwide operation, the Global Hawk uses satellites and line-of-sight communication links to ground control stations.
Once mission parameters are programmed into Global Hawk mission computer, the UAV can autonomously taxi, take off, fly, remain on station collecting imagery, return and land. The Global Hawk was first deployed in 2001 during operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. The US Air Force remains as its sole operator as of 2004.
The Global Hawk UAV has been deployed in support of joint US missions carried out with Germany and Australia. Under the Eurohawk program Germany could acquire this aircraft, which would represent the first export sale as well as strong support for the entire program. The US Navy is also studying the Global Hawk to meet its requirements under the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) program. The GHMD flight demonstrations will begin in 2005 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
The first production RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle arrived on November 16, 2004, at the Beale Air Force Base, California. In January 2006, the Northrop-Grumman Corporation announced that the Global Hawk reached 5,000 combat flight hours during a mission in support of the global war on terrorism. Since its entry into service in 2001 till January 2006, Global Hawk family of aircraft carried out 233 missions accumulating more than 8,000 flight hours.
As of August 2005, the US Air Force was confident to have 21 fully operational Global Hawks by 2008 and 51 by 2012 when Global Hawk series production is expected to be complete.
In January 2006 the US Air Force deployed its first two production RQ-4A Global Hawk aircraft in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Specifications
Accommodation: Unmanned
Dimensions: Height 4.6 m, Length 13.5 m, Wingspan 35.4 m
Weights: Max Weight 11,612 kg (25,600 lb), Payload 900 kg (1,984 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 19,850 m (65,125 ft), Endurance 36 hours, Max Range 25,000 km (13,499 nm), Top Speed 175 mps (Mach 0.53)
Other: Number of Engines 1
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United States of America / 16 