Responsive Imagery Tool To Serve U.S., Pacific Partners
Andersen Air Force Base celebrated the arrival of the RQ-4
Global Hawk intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance remotely
piloted aircraft to Guam during a ceremony at the base Monday. The
ceremony, hosted by Gen. Gary North, U.S. Pacific Air Forces
commander, featured an RQ-4, an F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle, and F-18
Hornet as a backdrop - a nod to the role of airpower in the Pacific
region.
File Photo Courtesy U.S. Air Force
The Global Hawk brings significant capabilities to the Pacific
theater which will benefit the 36th Wing, Pacific Air Forces, U.S.
Pacific Command, and regional partners, according to General North.
"Having an ISR capability within the Pacific greatly enhances Air
Force operational intelligence capabilities to meet mission
requirements," General North said. "In addition, the Global Hawk
will enhance the U.S. and its partners' ability to effectively
address regional challenges such as humanitarian assistance,
disaster relief, terrorism and piracy."
The RQ-4 Global Hawk is capable of providing government and
military decision makers near real-time, high-altitude, long-range
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance imagery that can
support a full spectrum of operations. Flying above ordinary
commercial traffic, the aircraft can survey large geographic areas
with pinpoint accuracy, without impacting civilian aircraft routes.
The imagery provides the most current information available during
contingency or crisis situations.
"This is a technology that saves lives," said Lt. Col. Brandon
Baker, Air Combat Command Detachment 3 commander. "The RQ-4 has
been used in contingency operations and humanitarian missions
before. During wildfires in California, the Global Hawk provided
firefighters with a near real-time view of the crisis, and helped
firefighters and rescue personnel direct their efforts." In
January, the RQ-4 also provided imagery to coordinators of the
international disaster relief and humanitarian mission in Haiti
after the devastating earthquake in that nation.
File Photo Courtesy U.S. Air Force
The Pacific Air Forces commander noted the significance of
basing the system in Guam. "Basing the RQ-4 at Andersen AFB will
support ongoing regional partnerships and reaffirm to U.S. friends,
allies, and partner nations of our commitment to continue
modernization efforts and force structure beddown to support
maintaining peace and stability in the region,." General North
said.
So far, one of three planned RQ-4s has arrived on Andersen. The
remaining two are scheduled to arrive later this year and at the
beginning of 2011. Local crews will launch and land the aircraft
from Andersen, while crews at Beale Air Force Base, CA, will
control the bulk of the mission once out of the local area. "We'll
be flying missions in support of U.S. Pacific Command priorities,"
Colonel Baker said. "We also intend to share with our allies
information pertaining to common regional challenges like
humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and piracy."
The RQ-4 Global Hawk has flown more than 45,000 hours worldwide
since becoming operational in 1995. The remotely piloted aircraft
is flown using a variety of communications protocols, complete with
built-in safety measures in the event that communication between
the mission control and the aircraft is lost.
In the event that all communication with the aircraft is lost or
it encounters an in-flight emergency, the RQ-4 is programmed to
continue its flight to its original destination or return to its
point of origin and land. During this time the pilot may be able to
reestablish a link to the aircraft. If that is impossible, the RQ-4
is capable of landing on its own. "The aircraft is flown by fully
qualified certified U.S. Air Force pilots - a fact which
contributes to the RQ-4's unparalleled safety record," Colonel
Baker said. "The RQ-4 negotiates pre-programmed flight plans and
the pilots communicate with air traffic controllers in a similar
manner as pilots in manned aircraft."
Additionally, the RQ-4 has a Federal Aviation Administration air
worthiness certification which ensures the aircraft meets U.S.
standards for safe flight operations. The Air Force routinely flies
the RQ-4 Global Hawk in the United States and at destinations
around the globe.
ANN Salutes Tech. Sgt. Mike Andriacco, 36th Wing Public
Affairs