Global Hawk unmanned aircraft reaches 10 years of flight and 20,000 flight hours

Date: 29 February, 2008

The RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial system (UAS), built by Northrop Grumman Corporation, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first flight on Feb. 28, 2008. On that date in 1998 the Global Hawk made history when it flew for one hour over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and climbed to an altitude of 32,000 feet.

"Today, this high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) system has logged more than 20,000 total programme flight hours, of which more than 15,000 hours were flown in support of the ‘global war on terrorism’ (GWOT)," said Jerry Madigan, Northrop Grumman vice president of HALE systems. "Its range, endurance and multi-sensor technology capabilities make it an ideal system to support homeland security objectives."

As the world's first fully autonomous HALE UAS providing persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to warfighters, the Global Hawk can fly up to 65,000 feet for more than 35 hours and see through any inclement weather at any time.

"The 9th Reconnaissance Wing (9RW) flies the RQ-4A in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The Global Hawk industry team is comprised of companies: Aurora Flight Sciences, Bridgeport, West Va. (V-tail assembly and other composite structures); L-3 Communications, Salt Lake City (communication system); Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, Calif. (integrated sensor suite); Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems, Falls Church, Va. (ground station); Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind. (engine); and Vought Aircraft Industries, Dallas (wing).