Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / Drone (2001)
The Northrop Grumman Global Hawk drone features a 36-hour in-flight endurance time and has seen production reach nearly 50 units.
The Global Hawk features the most distinct form of any operational UAV today. While its general configuration is that of a conventional aircraft, the aircraft sports unique shape full of style and contours. The nose cone is bulged for the requisite sensor equipment within and well-contoured to the fuselage to promote a streamlined shape. The fuselage tapers at the rear in the usual shape. The engine is mounted atop the aft portion of the spine, identified by the intake used for aspiration of the powerplant and its exhaust port at the rear over the fuselage. The tail section is capped by two outward-angled vertical tail fins and a pair of underfuselage ventral strakes. The main wing assemblies are straight in their overall design and low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage. The Global Hawk makes use of a wholly retractable undercarriage. There are no horizontal tail planes.
The Global Hawk features an internal sensory suite provided by Raytheon and Hughes while the aircraft itself is operated through a satellite managed data link. This data link allows for full transference of information - in the form of video and pictures - to sources on the ground (when within range of ground receivers). As with most modern UAVs, the Global Hawk tracks its position via GPS and does not expose allied pilots to enemy dangers or inclement weather.
The Global Hawk has been under consideration with several US-friendly allies including Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea (and possibly India and New Zealand as well). An off-shoot of the RQ-4 was developed for the German Luftwaffe as the RQ-4B "EuroHawk". This particular model was fitted with specialized EADS reconnaissance equipment and arrived in Germany in July of 2011. The Luftwaffe intends to procure an initial batch of 5 aircraft including the existing model already in use. In service, the Global Hawk can replace larger-scale, human-crewed operational reconnaissance platforms as it would for the Germans (currently relying on the Dassault-Breguet Atlantique as its reconnaissance platform). NATO is considering the NATO AGS (Alliance Ground Surveillance) version which remains in development. As many as five may be procured by project's end.
The Global Hawk family initially arrived in the Block 0 form, the first 7 Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Aircraft. Of these, 3 have been lost operationally while 3 were handed over to NASA and a sole example ended up as a museum piece. The Block 10 initiative saw 9 examples produced of which 2 became museum pieces, 2 were sent to NASA and 5 were handed to the United States Navy (1 example was lost operationally). The Block 20 initiative saw 6 produced for the United States Air Force of which 4 were outfitted with communications relay equipment and 2 utilized as testing platforms. The Block 30 endeavor has seen 16 aircraft built for the USAF with 31 total planned. While 21 have been approved by the US government, some 10 may be cancelled due to budget constraints. The Block 40 initiative is the latest Global Hawk form and is currently in development with 8 airframes completed.
The Global Hawk holds an aviation first as being the first unmanned aircraft to fly across the Pacific Ocean when it undertook the feat from Edwards AFB, United States to RAAF Base Edinburgh, Australia on April 24th, 2001.
The US Navy is trialing a dedicated over-water form in the "Triton" BAMS (Broad Area Maritime Surveillance) variant of which 68 are optimistically planned for procurement. The aircraft has been given the formal designation of MQ-4C "Triton" with at least five Global Hawks modified for the trials with a demonstrator lost to accident in June of 2012. Should all go as planned, the USN will begin fielding these sometime in 2015.
The Global Hawk program is currently (2013) under the crosshairs in terms of the US military long-term budget. The system, while capable, has proven an expensive addition to the USAF lineup, particularly in the cost associated with operations and image transference. It may very well be decided that Northrop Grumman's product is shelved for the interim and several airframes mothballed if authorities realize the gains from such a large UAV system do not offset the program costs. The Block 40 initiative may very well not see the light of day. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / Drone
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Ryan Aeronautical / Northtrop Grumman - USA
Initial Year of Service: 2001
Production: 47
Focus Model: Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
Crew: None
Length: 43.96ft (13.4m)
Width: 115.81ft (35.30m)
Height: 15.09ft (4.60m)
Weight (Empty): 8,488lbs (3,850kg)
Weight (MTOW): 25,600lbs (11,612kg)
Powerplant: 1 x Allison Rolls Royce AE3007H turbofan engine developing 7,050lbs of thrust.
Maximum Speed: 404mph (650kmh; 351kts)
Maximum Range: 13,809miles (22,224km)
Service Ceiling: 65,000ft (19,812m; 12.3miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
Internal payload of up to 2,000lbs depending on production model and mission configuration.
Variants:
Global Hawk Block 0 - Initial Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator; 7 examples delivered.
Global Hawk Block 10 - 9 examples delivered
Global Hawk Block 20 - 6 examples delivered; four converted as communications replay platforms.
Global Hawk Block 30 - 16 examples delivered
RQ-4A - Initial and Base Production Model Designation; 16 examples completed.
RQ-4B - Improved Global Hawk RQ-4A; increased wingspan (130.9 feet), length (47.7 feet) and payload capacity; reduced range.
RQ-4E "EuroHawk" - Based on the RQ-4B airframe but fitted with EADS reconnaissance systems; German export model; single example delivered as of March 2013 with an additional four more possible.
MQ-4C "Triton" - Proposed navalized Global Hawk under consideration with US Navy; primarily for maritime reconnaissance and surveillance; 68 examples planned for procurement, 0 produced as of March 2013.
EQ-4B - Fitted with Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) suite.
Global Hawk NATO AGS ("Alliance Ground Surveillance") - In development for NATO procurement; as many as five examples may be procured.
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