The U.S. Air Force’s RQ-4B Global Hawk reconnaissance drone went off the radar during a mission above the Black Sea, near Crimea. This incident, reported by RIA Novosti based on data from Flightradar as of June 4, has raised some eyebrows.
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Reports indicate that the high-altitude drone, marked with flight number 10-2045 and call sign FORTE12, took off from NATO’s Sigonella Air Base in Italy. It navigated through Bulgarian airspace, heading towards the Black Seato perform reconnaissance in the Crimean Peninsula’s special operation area.
However, as of now, neither RIA Novosti nor Flightradar have provided additional details about what transpired. The Russian Ministry of Defensehas also refrained from commenting on the incident.
RQ-4B Global Hawk in May
Earlier, on May 26, an RQ-4B Global Hawk was detected in the Black Sea near Sochi. As per its trajectory, the UAV had taken off from NATO’s Sigonella naval baselocated on the island of Sicily. By 3:00 PM Moscow time, it was spotted near the coastlines of Krasnodar Krai and Crimea.
In March 2023, Reuters reported that the U.S. had resumed reconnaissance drone operations over the Black Sea following an incident where an MQ-9 crashed into the water. It was noted that on the same day, an RQ-4 Global Hawk conducted a reconnaissance flight in the area. CNN also confirmed this flight, referencing data from the FlightRadar24 service.
Earlier that month, a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone had crashed into the Black Sea west of Crimea. According to an initial statement by the U.S. European Command [USEUCOM], a Russian Su-27 fighter jetallegedly clipped the drone’s propeller with its wing during an interception, leading to the crash in international waters of the Black Sea. However, the Russian Defense Ministry maintained that the plane neither used onboard weapons nor made contact with the drone.
RQ-4B Global Hawk
The RQ-4B Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance [HALE] unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV] developed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Air Force. It is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance [ISR] missions. The Global Hawk provides real-time, high-resolution imagery of large geographic areas, making it a critical asset for military and humanitarian operations.
The dimensions of the RQ-4B Global Hawk are impressive. It has a wingspan of approximately 130.9 feet [39.8 meters], a length of 47.6 feet [14.5 meters], and a height of 15.3 feet [4.7 meters]. These dimensions allow the UAV to carry a variety of sensors and communication equipment while maintaining stability and endurance at high altitudes.
The propulsion system of the RQ-4B Global Hawk consists of a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007H turbofan engine. This engine provides the necessary thrust for the UAV to reach its operational altitude and maintain long-duration flights. The engine’s efficiency contributes to the Global Hawk’s ability to stay airborne for extended periods, with a maximum endurance of over 32 hours.
High-altitude reconnaissance missions
Technical characteristics of the RQ-4B Global Hawk include its ability to fly at altitudes up to 60,000 feet [18,288 meters] and a range of approximately 12,300 nautical miles [22,780 kilometers]. The UAV is equipped with advanced avionics, including a GPS-aided inertial navigation system, and can operate autonomously or be controlled by ground operators.
The RQ-4B Global Hawk is outfitted with various types of systems to fulfill its ISR role. These include synthetic aperture radar [SAR], electro-optical/infrared [EO/IR] sensors, and signals intelligence [SIGINT] payloads. These systems enable the UAV to capture detailed imagery, track moving targets, and intercept electronic communications, providing comprehensive situational awareness.
The primary purpose of the RQ-4B Global Hawk is to conduct high-altitude, long-endurance reconnaissance missions. It supports a wide range of operations, from military surveillance and battlefield management to disaster response and environmental monitoring. The UAV’s ability to cover vast areas with high-resolution imagery makes it an invaluable tool for decision-makers in various scenarios.
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