RQ-4

Latest in RQ-4

The U.S. Air Force is planning to retire its remaining RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance drones by the end of the 2027 Fiscal Year. The service says it has become clear that the RQ-4s would be overly vulnerable in any future conflict against a peer or near-peer adversary, but it’s not clear what aircraft (or other assets) might fill the resulting capability gap. This only adds to the growing evidence that a top-secret, high-flying, stealth spy drone, commonly referred to as the RQ-180, or variants or derivatives thereof, is getting close to entering service, if it isn’t already being employed operationally on some level.
Air

Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

Japan Air Self-Defense Force's RQ-4B takes maiden flight
News & Features

Japan Flies Its RQ-4 Global Hawk For The First Time

By Emma Helfrich

Posted on Dec 22, 2022

No Military Units Have Free Time to Grab that Downed Global Hawk Off Mt. Whitney
News & Features

No Military Units Have Free Time to Grab that Downed Global Hawk Off Mt. Whitney

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 29, 2019

Canada Is Officially Trying To Buy Germany’s Unwanted And Unflyable RQ-4E Euro Hawk Drone
News & Features

Canada Is Officially Trying To Buy Germany’s Unwanted And Unflyable RQ-4E Euro Hawk Drone

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 21, 2019

USAF Plans To Drastically Boost Flexibility of U-2s and RQ-4s By Adding Modular ‘Agile Pods’
Air

USAF Plans To Drastically Boost Flexibility of U-2s and RQ-4s By Adding Modular ‘Agile Pods’

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 11, 2018

Exclusive: U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashed Off Spain Last June
Air

Exclusive: U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashed Off Spain Last June

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Sep 7, 2018

Story Update: New Details On The RQ-4 Global Hawk Crash Off Spain
Air

Story Update: New Details On The RQ-4 Global Hawk Crash Off Spain

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Sep 7, 2018

U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashes in California
News & Features

U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashes in California

By Joseph Trevithick and Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 22, 2017