Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk

Summary

Description

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

The RQ-4's development began in the 1990s, initiated by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Air Force. The goal was to have an unmanned platform that could offer consistent surveillance over large regions, delivering necessary intelligence. The aircraft's first flight occurred in 1998.

In terms of its design, the RQ-4 is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE3007H turbofan engine, allowing it to achieve speeds up to 575 km/h (357 mph) and reach an altitude of approximately 18,000 m (60,000 ft). The aircraft's avionics include synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors. These tools enable the RQ-4 to collect imagery intelligence, monitor regions, and track targets, even in challenging weather conditions.

From an operational perspective, the RQ-4 has been deployed in different regions, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. The aircraft has provided surveillance and collected intelligence in various scenarios. Moreover, the RQ-4 has been used in non-military operations, such as disaster-relief missions, assisting in data collection and response coordination.

There are different variants of the Global Hawk:

1. RQ-4A Global Hawk: This is the initial model, with a primary focus on imagery intelligence.
2. RQ-4B Global Hawk: An expanded model designed for varied intelligence needs with a larger payload capacity.
3. MQ-4C Triton: This variant is tailored for maritime surveillance and patrol.
4. EQ-4B Global Hawk: This model is equipped with a Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payload, serving as an aerial communications relay.

Technical specifications

All operators

Japan • South Korea • United States