Aircraft Also Holds Flight Endurance Record

Shortly before dawn Mar. 7, an RQ-4 Global Hawk embarked on an Operation Inherent Resolve mission that sent the aircraft soaring past the 10,000 flying hour milestone at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft 2019, or "A2019", was the first block 20 and first RQ-4B model to arrive here on Oct. 16, 2010. It's the first Global Hawk to reach 10,000 hour flying milestone. During its service, the aircraft has been providing support to warfighters by relaying communications between people and aircraft as well as enabling airstrikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant/Da'esh forces.

"This particular aircraft carries the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) payload, which replaces the imagery sensors normally installed in the aircraft," said Lt. Col. Anthony, launch and recovery element operations supervisor. "It is primarily a data and communications bridging node. It can support multiple bridges simultaneously across multiple radio types. We like to call it 'Wi-fi in the sky'."

Both manned and unmanned aircraft continue to fly in support of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance requirements for Operation Inherent Resolve. ISR helps coalition leaders gain better insight about the security situation on the ground, and strengthen the ability of Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces and their international partners to effectively counter ISIL.

The accomplishment of flying more than 10,000 hours was shared by the entire Hawk Aircraft Maintenance Unit and supporting units.

"It takes a team effort to maintain an aircraft," said Staff Sgt. Paul, RQ-4 Global Hawk crew chief. "Every six months there is a new rotation with a new group of people who have helped maintain this aircraft since its arrival."

A2019 also holds the record for the longest block 20 flight, which is currently set at 31.5 flying hours.

The Block 20 model began flying in 2004 and was initially fielded with imagery intelligence (IMINT)-only capabilities. Three Block 20s have been converted to an EQ-4 communication relay configuration, carrying the BACN payload. 95 percent of its flight time has been accumulated since it was reconfigured with the BACN payload in 2010.

ANN salutes Tech. Sgt. Marie Brown U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs

(USAF images)

FMI: www.af.mil