RQ-4 Global Hawk

Definition/Scope: Global Hawk, is similar to the U-2. The US Navy has also been a user of the Global Hawk system. The first RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) slated for the Navy’s Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) program made its first flight from Palmdale, California, to Edward's Air Force Base on 6 October 2004. The mission lasted for approximately four hours and exercised the airframe, guidance system and powerplant. This was the first of two RQ-4A aircraft the Navy acquired as part of the GHMD program. The GHMD program was intended to develop maritime UAV tactics and operating procedures. As of 2004 the Air Force planned a production run of approximately 51 Global Hawks. Production of the RQ-4A, the official designation for the Global Hawk demonstrators, was stated as completed as of March 2007. The UAV was designed as a high altitude endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance system. Global Hawk is the only unmanned aerial system (UAS) to meet the military and the Federal Administration Aviation’s airworthiness standards and have approval to fly regular flights within U.S. airspace. Global Hawk is part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing based at its main operating base, Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

Use:

Global Hawk

Used For:

ISR

Broader Terms:

Aerial Common Sensor
Air Force aircraft
Tier III (UAV)
Unmanned Aircraft System
Unmanned Aircraft System (by name)

Narrower Terms:

Battle Damage Assessment
search and rescue

Related Terms:

Bell Eagle Eye
CQ-10 Snowgoose
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
M/RQ-1 Predator
MQ-1C Sky Warrior
MQ-8B Fire Scout
MQ-9 Reaper
Predator
RQ-11 Raven
RQ-5 Hunter
RQ-7 Shadow
RQ-7A Shadow
ScanEagle
U2
US Air Force
US Navy
WASP