RQ-4 Global Hawk operates eyes in the sky

An RQ-4 Global Hawk is towed during flight recovery at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 19, 2015. Several of these unmanned aircraft will operate out of Misawa until December 2015, and will provide a broad spectrum of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collection capabilities in support of joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and crisis operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo/Released)

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RQ-4 Global Hawk operates eyes in the sky

Maintainers from the 69th Maintenance Squadron perform an operations check on a RQ-4 Global Hawk at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 19, 2015. Before and after every RQ-4 flight, maintainers conduct an operations check and a 360-degree assessment of the unmanned aircraft to ensure there are no discrepancies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo/Released)

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RQ-4 Global Hawk operates eyes in the sky

A maintainer from the 69th Maintenance Squadron uses a wrench to unscrew a panel on a RQ-4 Global Hawk during a flight recovery operation at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 19, 2015. Approximately 40 personnel are deployed here to provide flight and support operations during the unmanned aircraft’s scheduled rotation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo/Released)

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RQ-4 Global Hawk operates eyes in the sky

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Caleb Kenley, 35th Security Forces Squadron installation entry controller, oversees the security of a RQ-4 Global Hawk at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 19, 2015. During the RQ-4’s six-month rotation to Misawa, direct safety and security is provided to ensure the aircraft is protected and ready to perform its mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo/Released)

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RQ-4 Global Hawk operates eyes in the sky

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Andrew Chambers, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, pumps fuel into a RQ-4 Global Hawk at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 19, 2015. The RQ-4 has one of the highest endurance capabilities for unrefueled flight, with an ability to stay in the sky for more than 30 hours at a time on a full tank of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo/Released)

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RQ-4 Global Hawk operates eyes in the sky

Published Aug. 28, 2015
By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Several R-Q4 Global Hawks and approximately 40 support and operations personnel are deployed to Misawa Air Base for the aircraft's second rotation here. The Global Hawk supports U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and contingency operations throughout the Pacific theater, and is scheduled to operate here through December 2015.

In theater, the Global Hawk can provide near real-time aerial imagery reconnaissance support to U.S. and partner nations assisting in a multitude of operations. This capability was effectively employed during Operation Tomodachi, a relief effort launched when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake resulted in a tsunami that ravaged northeastern Japan in 2011.