Article Posted on : - Sep 21, 2010

The RQ-4 Global Hawk. Northrop Grumman photo

ANDERSEN AFB, GAUM (BNS): The first RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) deployed to the Pacific region was commemorated Monday.

The Global Hawk designated AF-20 landed at the Andersen Air Force Base in Gaum on September 1 after an 18-hour flight from its main operating base at Beale Air Force Base in California.

In addition to Pacific Command (PACOM), Global Hawk has also been forward-deployed to European Command, or EUCOM, forces at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, where another Block 30 Global Hawk, designated AF-15, arrived September 15.

Block 30 Global Hawks will be based at both Sigonella and Andersen and will be operational in early 2011, Northrop Grumman said.

Cruising at extremely high altitudes and above ordinary, commercial traffic, the RQ-4 Global Hawk can survey large geographic areas with pinpoint accuracy.

According to the company, the unmanned aircraft system can convey to government and military decision-makers the most current information available during a crisis or contingency situation and provide them with near real-time, high-resolution ISR imagery that can support full-spectrum operations.

"We believe that an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability within the Pacific theater meets the needs of US Air Force operations and will help the US and its partners and allies address common regional challenges such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, terrorism, and piracy," said Gen. Gary L North, commander of the Pacific Air Forces and Air Component for US PACOM.