Global Hawk prepares for flying mission

Maintenance technicians go over pre-flight inspections on their RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft before a mission while deployed Nov. 23, 2010, at an air base in Southwest Asia. The Airmen are assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

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RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk reaches critical milestone

Published Aug. 11, 2011
By Scott Knuteson
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The commander of Air Combat Command declared initial operational capability for the RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk Aug. 10.

The Air Force successfully deployed the Block 30 RQ-4 Global Hawk in support of Operation ODYSSEY DAWN in Libya and Operation TOMODACHI in Japan, and the IOC declaration is another significant milestone for the aircraft.

"The basic requirement for Block 30 IOC is to support one continuous Block 30 24-hour orbit for 30 days," said Gen. William M. Fraser III. "There are enough assets and infrastructure in place to support the one continuous Block 30 orbit requirement for IOC."

"There is still much that needs to be done to reach Global Hawk full operational capability," Fraser added. "To that end, we'll continue working closely with Headquarters Air Force and Northrop Grumman."

Global Hawk prepares for flying mission