UAV Profile: Northrop Grumman Global Hawk
The Northrop Grumman Global Hawk is a high altitude long endurance low wing monoplane with extended high aspect ratio wing and single tail mounted turbofan engine.
The RQ-4B Block 20 is the current standard production version of the Global Hawk family from air vehicle 17 through to the completion of LOT 4 deliveries under US Air Force funded spiral development plans for the type.
The first Block 20 variant made its debut flight on March 1 2007 with deliveries now underway to the USAF. The first export sale was secured in February 2007 with an order for 1+4 systems by Germany as the basis of its Eurohawk derivative.
Currently on offer for the US Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) requirement under the designation RQ-4N. Block 20 to be succeeded in USAF production by Block 30 and 40 series aircraft from LOT 5.
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Northrop Grumman Global Hawk RQ-4B Block 20 |
| Wingspan |
130.9 ft |
39.9 m |
| Length |
47.6 ft |
14.5 m |
| MTOW |
32,250 lb |
14,628 kg |
| Payload Weight |
3,000 lb |
1,360 kg |
| Cruise Speed |
310 kts |
575 kmh |
| Endurance |
36 Hours |
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