19 April 2021

Japan's first Global Hawk UAV makes maiden flight

by Gabriel Dominguez

The first of three RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30i (international) high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on order for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) conducted its maiden flight on 15 April from Palmdale, California.

Manufacturer Northrop Grumman said the following day that the unarmed RQ-4B will “provide Japan with on-demand intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information” supporting JASDF missions of “protecting borders, monitoring threats, and providing humanitarian assistance in times of need”.

The first of three RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30i (international) high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) u...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.