Global Hawk

The RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is the premier provider of persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information.

aircraft inflight against a cloudy, blue sky

Global Hawk: Vigilance for a Changing World

The RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is the premier provider of persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information. Able to fly at high altitudes for greater than 30 hours, Global Hawk is designed to gather near-real-time, high-resolution imagery of large areas of land in all types of weather – day or night. Beyond intelligence collection a portion of the Global Hawk fleet has supported air and ground users with communications relay support. The EQ-4B Global Hawk previously carried the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payload providing life-saving support to warfighters.

Global Hawk has amassed more than 320,000 flight hours with missions flown in support of military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa, and the greater Asia-Pacific region. The system provides an affordable and flexible platform for multiple sensor payloads to be used together, delivering mission-critical information to various users around the world.

In active operation with the U.S. Air Force since 2001, Global Hawk sees potential threats to allow commanders to gain greater understanding of an area of interest. These same intelligence-gathering capabilities also allow civil authorities greater ability to respond to natural disasters, conduct search-and-rescue operations and gather weather and atmospheric data to help forecasters predict the paths of storms.

Global Hawk in the News

unmanned aircraft landing on runway

Northrop Grumman RQ-4 RangeHawk Supports NASA’s Artemis Mission

male standing in front of RangeHawk at press conference

Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 RangeHawks Embark on New Mission

unmanned aircraft landing on runway

NATO RQ-4D Phoenix Achieves Major Milestone with Full System Handover

aircraft inflight against blue sky

Northrop Grumman Completes Ferry Flight of Japan’s RQ-4B Global Hawk

Four Global Hawk aircrafts lined up on runway

Northrop Grumman Global Hawk to Expand Participation in SkyRange Program for US Department of Defense

Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle flying above desert

Northrop Grumman Awarded Mission Planning Contract to Increase Global Hawk Operational Flexibility

Global Hawk unmanned plane flying over desert

Northrop Grumman Global Hawk Connects the Joint Force in Advanced Battle Management System Exercise

aircraft on ground at sunset

Northrop Grumman Ground Segment Modernization Program Revolutionizing the Global Hawk Operator Experience

unmanned aircraft flying in blue skies

Northrop Grumman Completes Successful First Flight of Japan’s Second RQ-4B Global Hawk

aircraft flying against a blue sky

Northrop Grumman Completes Successful First Flight of Japan’s RQ-4B Global Hawk

aircraft inflight against cloudy sky

Northrop Grumman Completes First Flight of Global Hawk Ground Station Modernization Program

aircraft inflight against dark clouds

Northrop Grumman Delivers New Capabilities to Deployed Global Hawk Autonomous Aircraft