Raytheon
Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk
The Northrop Grumman RQ‑4B Global Hawk, produced under a partnership with Raytheon, entered service in the early‑2000s as the United States’ premier high‑altitude, long‑endurance unmanned aircraft system. Development began in the mid‑1990s, with the first flight in 1998 and operational deployment in 2001. Designed for strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, the Global Hawk operates at altitudes above 60,000 ft for up to 32 hours, covering a radius of more than 12,000 km without refueling.
Key features include a twin‑engine Turboprop‑derived propulsion system, a sophisticated sensor suite supplied by Raytheon, and an integrated communications architecture. The aircraft carries a synthetic‑aperture radar, electro‑optical/infrared cameras, and signals‑intelligence packages, delivering high‑resolution, real‑time imagery to ground commanders. Its autonomous flight control and data‑link capabilities enable persistent coverage of vast areas while maintaining low operational cost compared with manned platforms.
The RQ‑4B’s contributions to modern aviation are profound. It has reshaped battlefield awareness, supported humanitarian disaster assessments, and informed treaty verification efforts worldwide. By proving that unmanned systems can reliably perform strategic ISR missions at extreme altitudes, the Global Hawk set a benchmark for subsequent high‑altitude drones and cemented its role as a cornerstone of U.S. and allied intelligence operations.
Key features include a twin‑engine Turboprop‑derived propulsion system, a sophisticated sensor suite supplied by Raytheon, and an integrated communications architecture. The aircraft carries a synthetic‑aperture radar, electro‑optical/infrared cameras, and signals‑intelligence packages, delivering high‑resolution, real‑time imagery to ground commanders. Its autonomous flight control and data‑link capabilities enable persistent coverage of vast areas while maintaining low operational cost compared with manned platforms.
The RQ‑4B’s contributions to modern aviation are profound. It has reshaped battlefield awareness, supported humanitarian disaster assessments, and informed treaty verification efforts worldwide. By proving that unmanned systems can reliably perform strategic ISR missions at extreme altitudes, the Global Hawk set a benchmark for subsequent high‑altitude drones and cemented its role as a cornerstone of U.S. and allied intelligence operations.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 50.17 square metre
- Length
- 14.5 metre
- Height
- 4.7 metre
- Mass
- 7847 kilogram
Performance
- Maximum Speed
- 574 kilometre per hour
- Service Ceiling
- 18288 metre
- Range
- 22772 kilometre
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 45
- Unit Cost
- 222700000
- First Flight
- 2007
- Service Entry
- 2008
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Raytheon
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce AE 3007H
- Operator
-
Air Force Materiel Command Air Combat Command
- Wikidata ID
- Q112966990