Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, remotely-piloted surveillance aircraft introduced in 2001. It was initially designed by Ryan Aeronautical, and known as Tier II+ during development. The RQ-4 provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors with long loiter times over target areas.
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
The prototype MQ-4C on its first flight
A maintenance crew preparing a Global Hawk at Beale Air Force Base
EuroHawk at the ILA 2012
Surveillance aircraft are aircraft used for surveillance. They are primarily operated by military forces and government agencies in roles including intelligence gathering, maritime patrol, battlefield and airspace surveillance, observation, and law enforcement.
A Raytheon Sentinel of the RAF showing its radar pod
A Royal Flying Corps observation balloon on the Western Front, during World War I
A US Navy P-8 Poseidon on take off
The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, remotely-piloted surveillance UAV.