Group : Surveillance & Reconnaissance Airplanes
Status : Retired - No Longer Operational
Also Known As : RQ-4 Block 10 Global Hawk
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Northrop Grumman*, L-3 Communications, Raytheon
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : November 2001
First Flight : February 28, 1998
Total Production : 16
Unitary Cost : USD $38 million

The RQ-4A Global Hawk, or Global Hawk Block 10, is the initial version of the RQ-4 system deployed in November 2001 in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT). Provides near real-time, high resolution IMINT, through the Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) payload, of large geographic areas containing information about enemy resources, location and personnel. It is equipped with satellite (beyond-line-of-sight or BLOS) and line-of-sight (LOS) data links for communications with ground control stations. The United States Air Force RQ-4A aircraft was first deployed in November 2001 over Afghanistan during operation Enduring Freedom.

The first production RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle arrived at the Beale Air Force Base, California, on November 16, 2004. In August 2005, the USAF 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. As of April 2011, the US Air Force requirement for Global Hawk aircraft had decreased from 77 to 66 airplanes with an unitary cost of $100.8 million.

Mission parameters are pre-programmed into the RQ-4A Global Hawk mission computer before flight. Afterwards, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can autonomously taxi, take off, fly, remain on station collecting imagery, return and land. The Global Hawk has been deployed in support of joint US military services exercises and missions carried out with Germany and Australia. For enhanced survivability the RQ-4A unmanned aircraft features low observable technologies such as reduced radar cross section.

Group : Surveillance & Reconnaissance Airplanes
Status : Active
Also Known As : EQ-4B (version equipped with Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) system), RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Northrop Grumman*, L-3 Communications, Raytheon
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : December 2007
First Flight : March 1, 2007
Total Production : 9
Unitary Cost : USD $68 million

The RQ-4B Global Hawk, or Global Hawk Block 20, is an improved version of the proven RQ-4A Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The B model is bigger and heavier with a 50 percent increase in payload capacity from 2,000-lb to 3,000-lb and operates with two-and-a-half times the electrical power than the Block 10. In addition to the ISS electro-optical sensors integrated onto the RQ-4A, the RQ-4B will be able to accommodate SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) payloads for enhanced ISR capabilities as well as the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) radar system and future payloads while retaining A-model performance. Nevertheless, the B model falls behind the RQ-4A in terms of speed and range.

On 12 July 2005, the US Air Force awarded Northrop-Grumman Global Hawk low rate initial production Lot 4 contract valued at $273 million for four RQ-4B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), enhanced sensor suites, one mission control element, one launch recovery element, support equipment and spares. The items deliveries were expected to be completed by July 2008. In November 2005 the USAF awarded Northrop-Grumman a $60 million contract to begin production on five RQ-4B Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Systems with vehicles assembly expected to start in early 2006. The first production Block 20 aircraft carried out its maiden flight on March 1, 2007.

Group : Surveillance & Reconnaissance Airplanes
Status : Active
Also Known As : RQ-4B Global Hawk
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Northrop Grumman*, L-3 Communications, Raytheon
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : August 2011
First Flight : 2009
Total Production : 7
Unitary Cost : USD $101 million

The US Air Force RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk, RQ-4C?, is a new configuration to be equipped with the Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) payload replacing the ISS on the RQ-4A/B aircraft. The Block 30 aircraft also provides room for airborne signals intelligence capabilities. It is expected to conduct its first flight in 2009 with initial operational capability slated for August 2011. In January 2012 the Pentagon announced its intention to cancel the RQ-4 Block 30 program and release new plans to perform this mission with the U-2 aircraft.

Group : Surveillance & Reconnaissance Airplanes
Status : Cancelled
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Airbus Group, Northrop Grumman
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2014
First Flight : June 29, 2010
Total Production : 5

Euro Hawk builds upon the RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk high altitude, long endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and it is being developed to meet the surveillance and reconnaissance needs of the German Armed Forces. In 2003, the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) identified Euro Hawk as the potential replacement for the Breguet Atlantic aircraft fleet by 2010. On November 3, 2005, Northrop-Grumman and EADS founded EuroHawk GmbH 50/50 joint venture based in Immenstaad, Germany, for the development, manufacture and sustainment of Euro Hawk.

EADS will supply the aircraft's SIGINT mission system and the ground control station while Northrop-Grumman will supply the airframe. The SIGINT payload allows detection of radar emitters (ELINT) and communications emitters (COMINT). Euro Hawk features a wingspan larger than an Airbus A320 airliner, an operational ceiling of 20,000 meters and a flight endurance of over 30 hours. The Euro Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has a top speed of 555 kilometer-per-hour.

The German government signed the Euro Hawk risk reduction contract in autumn 2006. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and series production approval are expected by 2009. On February 1, 2007, the German Ministry of Defense awarded EuroHawk GmbH a 430 million Euro contract for the development, test and support of the Euro Hawk unmanned signals intelligence (SIGINT) system. The first demonstrator system was scheduled for delivery to the Luftwaffe in 2010. Thereafter, four Euro Hawks would be delivered between 2011 and 2014.

On May 14, 2013, the German government cancelled the 1 billion Euro unmanned Euro Hawk program due to the high cost of flying them over European airspace. The program cancellation cost is estimated at 250 million Euro. One aircraft already delivered will be retained for testing.

Group : Surveillance & Reconnaissance Airplanes
Status : Active
Also Known As : RQ-4D Global Hawk (?), RQ-4D Phoenix
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Northrop Grumman*, L-3 Communications, Raytheon
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2015
First Flight : November 16, 2009
Total Production : 16
Unitary Cost : USD $101 million

The RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk, RQ-4D, unmanned aerial system (UAS) has been designed to carry the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) radar system. MP-RTIP will deliver synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, SAR Swath imaging wide area capability and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) capability to detect and track moving vehicles on the ground. The first production Block 40 aircraft completed its first flight on November 16, 2009. The first aircraft equipped with the AN/ZPY-2 MP-RTIP sensor performed its maiden flight on July 21, 2011. NATO selected the aircraft under the RQ-4D Phoenix designation.

Group : Surveillance & Reconnaissance Airplanes
Status : Active
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Northrop Grumman
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2017
Total Production : 3
Unitary Cost : USD $118 million

The US Air Force (USAF) Block 30M RQ-4B Global Hawk is an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform with additional Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) capabilities. The aircraft is equipped with an Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) and an Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP). The USAF awarded a $355 million contract to Northrop Grumman for an initial three Block 30M aircraft in August 2014 with deliveries due to complete in 2017. An enhanced version of the AN/ASQ-230 and MS-177 sensors were integrated into the platform in September 2020.

Group : Maritime Patrol Aircrafts
Status : Active
Also Known As : Broad Area Maritime Surveillance, RQ-4N BAMS
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Northrop Grumman*, Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE Systems, L-3 Communications, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Triumph Aerostructures
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : May 31, 2018
First Flight : May 22, 2013
Total Production : 75
Development Cost : USD $1.2 billion
Unitary Cost : USD $135 million

The Northrop Grumman RQ-4N Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) is a marinized version of the RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft family. Its primary mission is to provide persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data collection and dissemination capability that fulfills the US Navy's requirement for continuous battle-space awareness. The BAMS system will operate in conjunction with the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft and support the joint forces in open ocean and littoral environments worldwide. The US Navy awarded the BAMS $1.16 billion System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract to Northrop Grumman on April 22, 2008. The SDD contract extends through September 2014.

The RQ-4N BAMS platform will be equipped with a comprehensive suite of sensors and communications systems to detect, track, classify, and identify maritime and littoral targets delivering this critical battle-space awareness data to joint forces and fleet commanders worldwide. The sensor suite will include the Northrop Grumman's BAMS Multi-Function Active Sensor active electronically scanned array radar and Raytheon's electro-optical payloads.

Group : Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles
Status : Under Development
Also Known As : SkyRange
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Northrop Grumman
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2030
First Flight : 2023
Total Production : ?

The US Air Force Range Hawk is a prospective airborne platform intended to conduct reconnaissance missiles and deliver hypersonic air-to-surface weapons against both land and sea targets. The Range Hawk drones will be built using decommissioned RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 20 and Block 30 aircraft. The new Range Hawk along its hypersonic weapons is expected to achieve initial operational capability before 2030.