First Production Global Hawk UAV Arrives at Beale Air Force Base

Posted on: Nov. 17th, 2004 || Source: irconnect.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 16, 2004 -- The first production RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle has arrived at its new home at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

Designated AF-3, the UAV arrived on Oct. 28 following a short ferry flight from the Birk Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) produces Global Hawk for the U.S. Air Force.

"This is the first Global Hawk to arrive on base, but it's not new to us," said Col. Larry Wells, commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base. "For quite some time, our pilots and sensor operators have been operating the system in theatre from half a world away. During its current deployment, just one RQ-4A air vehicle has flown more than 1,000 combat hours, providing tremendous support to our fighting men and women on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan."

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