page_title: Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
section_title: Sensor packages
hierarchical_section_title: Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk / Design / Sensor packages
caption_attribution_description: This photograph taken by the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) shows an aerial view of wildfires in Northern California in July 2008. 080805-N-0000X-001 SAN DIEGO (July 5, 2008) This photograph taken by the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) shows an aerial view of wildfires in Northern California in July 2008. Global Hawk stayed aloft for nearly 24 hours sending detailed images to help manage firefighting efforts. The long-range UAV can reach any location in the world within 24-hours and is being tested by the Navy for maritime use. — Released (Text by U.S. Navy)
context_page_description: The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, remotely-piloted, surveillance aircraft. It was initially designed by Ryan Aeronautical, and known as Tier II+ during development. The Global Hawk performs duties similar to that of the Lockheed U-2. The RQ-4 provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar and long-range electro-optical/infrared sensors with long loiter times over target areas. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles of terrain a day, an area the size of South Korea or Iceland.
  The Global Hawk is operated by the United States Air Force. It is used as a High-Altitude Long Endurance platform covering the spectrum of intelligence collection capability to support forces in worldwide military operations. According to the USAF, the superior surveillance capabilities of the aircraft allow more precise weapons targeting and better protection of friendly forces. Cost overruns led to the original plan to acquire 63 aircraft being cut to 45, and to a 2013 proposal to mothball the 21 Block 30 signals intelligence variants. The initial flyaway cost of each of the first 10 aircraft was US$10 million in 1994.
caption: Photograph taken by US Navy Global Hawk with an aerial view of wildfires in Northern California, 2008
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