Posts tagged RQ-4

Misawa Air Base personnel welcomed the RQ-4 Global Hawk here during the aircrafts historic first landing in Japanese territory, May 24, 2014. The remotely piloted system supports U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and contingency operations throughout the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. April Quintanilla)

US drone makes first operational flight from Japan

Jun 21st

Posted by Martyn Williams in Military

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The U.S. Air Force didn’t waste much time in putting into use two high-tech drones that it moved from Guam to Japan earlier this month.

The drones arrived at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan on May 24 and the first operational mission was flown on June 6, according to information released Friday by the U.S. Air Force.

Precise details of the mission or its destination were not disclosed, but from their base in Misawa the drones are much closer to North Korea and so can spend longer flying over the country if needed.

The U.S. Air Force’s 35th Fighter Wing said weather on June More >

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An RQ-4 Global Hawk from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam is towed down the taxiway at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 24, 2014. The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system with an integrated sensor suite that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, capability worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb)

US brings Global Hawk drone to Japan

May 26th

Posted by Martyn Williams in Electronic warfare

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The U.S. Air Force’s Global Hawk drone landed in Japan for the first time on Saturday.

The aircraft is one of the most advanced unmanned craft in the world and is typically used for surveillance and eavesdropping missions from its perch at around 60,000 feet — well above the level of commercial aircraft but lower than the maximum altitude of the U2 spy plane.

Usually based at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the Global Hawk landed at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan on Thursday, May 24, as part of a bilateral deal with Japan signed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in October last year. More >

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