Q-4

Latest in Q-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 Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Jul 26 5:51 PM EDT

The Navy has established a new forward-deployed MQ-4C detachment at NAS Sigonella in Italy.

MQ-4C Triton Has Arrived In Europe, Could Impact Black Sea, Red Sea Operations MQ-4C Triton Has Arrived In Europe, Could Impact Black Sea, Red Sea Operations

By Joseph Trevithick

Apr 1 2:48 PM EDT

North Korea's advanced drones get inspected by Kim as a launch of a solid fuel IRBM occurs

North Korea’s Most Advanced Drones Reemerge, Solid Fuel IRBM Tested North Korea’s Most Advanced Drones Reemerge, Solid Fuel IRBM Tested

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Jan 15 9:09 PM EST

North Korea Drone RQ-4

North Korea Unveils Look-Alike Global Hawk, Reaper Drones North Korea Unveils Look-Alike Global Hawk, Reaper Drones

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Jul 27 1:57 PM EDT

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

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

By Emma Helfrich

Dec 21 7:56 PM EST

Global Hawk Has Left Beale Air Force Base For Good

Global Hawk Has Left Beale Air Force Base For Good Global Hawk Has Left Beale Air Force Base For Good

By Emma Helfrich

Aug 10 10:13 PM EDT

Global Hawk Retirement Points Again To RQ-180 Waiting In The Wings

Global Hawk Retirement Points Again To RQ-180 Waiting In The Wings Global Hawk Retirement Points Again To RQ-180 Waiting In The Wings

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 28 1:52 PM EDT

Inside The NATO Alliance’s RQ-4D “Phoenix” Drone Operations Inside The NATO Alliance’s RQ-4D “Phoenix” Drone Operations

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

Jul 20 3:27 PM EDT

BAMS-D Global Hawks return home after 13-year mission.

Navy’s Global Hawks Come Home After Unexpected 13-Year Deployment Navy’s Global Hawks Come Home After Unexpected 13-Year Deployment

By Emma Helfrich

Jun 23 8:42 PM EDT

Enlisted Pilots Operating Global Hawk Drones Could Soon Be A Thing Of The Past

Enlisted Pilots Operating Global Hawk Drones Could Soon Be A Thing Of The Past Enlisted Pilots Operating Global Hawk Drones Could Soon Be A Thing Of The Past

By Thomas Newdick

Dec 8 7:27 PM EST

What Looks Like The Tail Of A Global Hawk Clone Just Appeared On A Truck In Iran

What Looks Like The Tail Of A Global Hawk Clone Just Appeared On A Truck In Iran What Looks Like The Tail Of A Global Hawk Clone Just Appeared On A Truck In Iran

By Thomas Newdick

Nov 1 6:56 PM EDT

Unwanted Global Hawk Drones Are Being Transformed To Support Hypersonic Missile Tests

Unwanted Global Hawk Drones Are Being Transformed To Support Hypersonic Missile Tests Unwanted Global Hawk Drones Are Being Transformed To Support Hypersonic Missile Tests

By Thomas Newdick

Oct 21 10:14 AM EDT

RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashes Just Outside Of Grand Forks Air Force Base

RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashes Just Outside Of Grand Forks Air Force Base RQ-4 Global Hawk Drone Crashes Just Outside Of Grand Forks Air Force Base

By Thomas Newdick

Aug 6 2:02 PM EDT

The Army Lays Out Plans For Its New Intelligence Gathering Jet

The Army Lays Out Plans For Its New Intelligence Gathering Jet The Army Lays Out Plans For Its New Intelligence Gathering Jet

By Thomas Newdick

Jun 15 3:11 PM EDT

Global Hawk Drones To Be Retired In Favor Of Secretive Penetrating Spy Aircraft

Global Hawk Drones To Be Retired In Favor Of Secretive Penetrating Spy Aircraft Global Hawk Drones To Be Retired In Favor Of Secretive Penetrating Spy Aircraft

By Joseph Trevithick

May 7 5:03 PM EDT

Germany’s Unwanted Euro Hawk Drone Has Finally Become A Very Costly Museum Exhibit

Germany’s Unwanted Euro Hawk Drone Has Finally Become A Very Costly Museum Exhibit Germany’s Unwanted Euro Hawk Drone Has Finally Become A Very Costly Museum Exhibit

By Thomas Newdick

Mar 19 3:17 AM EDT