Configured for diverse missions that vary from combat operations on land and sea to supporting civil authorities in disaster relief operations or global climate monitoring, the Global Hawk is attracting increasing interest for its ability to meet many needs. Considered a strategic system, Global Hawk operates with the fidelity and flexibility of a tactical platform at less than half the operating costs of similar manned systems. Multiple versions of this premier high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system (UAS) were on display in Paris during the event. Global Hawk is part of Northrop Grumman's unmanned systems product line that includes:
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RQ-4 Global Hawk Derivatives
- U.S. Air Force Global Hawk
- U.S. Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS)
- German Luftwaffe Euro Hawk
- NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance unmanned airborne segment
- MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical UAS
- X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System
- MQ-5B Hunter
- BQM-34/74 and Chukar III aerial targets
The RQ-4's unique attributes continue to attract attention with various military and government branches that are facing complex challenges today and need a system able to address their needs for constant intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data. Northrop Grumman will roll out its first Block 40 Global Hawk UAS in a ceremony June 25, 2009, at the company's Antelope Valley Manufacturing Center in Palmdale, California. Global Hawks were deployed in 2001 in support of overseas contingency operations and have logged more than 31,000 hours, of which approximately 24,000 were flown in support of combat.