RQ-4 Global Hawk

摘要

The RQ-4A Global Hawk High Altitude Endurance UAV (HAEUAV) is a high altitude reconnaissance UAV with greater range and endurance than the RQ-1A Predator. Development began in the spring of 1995 with the selection of the Teledyne Ryan/E-Systems team (now Northrop Grumman). The Global Hawk conducted its first flight in February 1998, and a second Global Hawk made its maiden flight in No-vember 1998. A total of seven Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) air vehicles were built plus two Mission Control Elements and three Launch & Recovery Elements. The eighth Global Hawk (which was also the first series production aircraft) was delivered to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB in September 2003. Series production was first funded in the FY02 budget and plans now call for at least six Block 20,26 Block 30 and 15 Block 40 aircraft.