Q-4

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Another long-serving U.S. military aircraft has completed its final operational deployment, with the return of the U.S. Navy’s EP-3E Aries II surveillance platform from the 5th Fleet area of operations. The countdown to the spy plane’s final retirement is now on, which will see its vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission handed over fully to the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance drone.

EP-3E Aries II Spy Plane Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Nov 7, 2024
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

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Jul 26, 2024
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

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Apr 1, 2024
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

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Jan 16, 2024
North Korea Drone RQ-4

North Korea Unveils Look-Alike Global Hawk, Reaper Drones

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Jul 27, 2023
Japan Air Self-Defense Force's RQ-4B takes maiden flight

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

By Emma Helfrich
Posted on Dec 22, 2022
Global Hawk Has Left Beale Air Force Base For Good

Global Hawk Has Left Beale Air Force Base For Good

By Emma Helfrich
Posted on Aug 11, 2022
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
Posted on Jul 28, 2022
RQ-4D Italy

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

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo
Posted on Jul 20, 2022
BAMS-D Global Hawks return home after 13-year mission.

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

By Emma Helfrich
Posted on Jun 24, 2022
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
Updated on Dec 9, 2021
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
Updated on Nov 1, 2021
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
Updated on Oct 21, 2021
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
Posted on Aug 6, 2021
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
Updated on Jun 15, 2021
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
Posted on May 7, 2021