RQ-4 Global Hawk

RQ-4 Global Hawk (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – UAV) – 20

Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman

First flight: 28 February 1998

Number built: 42 as of FY2013

Program cost: $10 billion (USAF cost through FY2014)

Unit cost:

$131.4 million (FY13)

$222.7 million (with R&D)

Developed into: Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton

General characteristics

Crew: 0 onboard (3 remote: LRE pilot; MCE pilot and sensor operator)

Length: 14.5 m

Wingspan: 39.9 m

Height: 4.7 m

Empty weight: 6,781 kg

Gross weight: 14,628 kg

Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce F137-RR-100 turbofan engine, 3,467 kgf (34 kN) thrust

Performance

Cruise speed: 575 km/h

Range: 14,001 km

Endurance: 28 hours

Service ceiling: 18,288 m

MQ-4C Triton

For USN Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) role; previously known as the RQ-4N; 4 ordered, 68 total planned

Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan, 2,947-4,048 kgf (28.9-39.7 kN)

Endurance: 24 hours