Pentagon deploys long-range ISR drone, the Global Hawk,

[ErnstBlofeld]

East Asia Intel:

The Pentagon quietly announced last month that it has deployed the first long-range intelligence-gathering and targeting drone, called the RQ-4 Global Hawk, to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

The unique surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft is one of the key hardware elements of the U.S. government’s unfolding hedge strategy against China that since the mid-2000s has been building up military forces and alliances in a low-key fashion to avoid signaling China that it is viewed within the military as a future threat.

A ceremony was held Sept. 20 at Andersen to unveil the Global Hawk, backed by the F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle and F-18 Hornet.

Gen. Gary North, U.S. Pacific Air Forces commander, said the Global Hawk will boost U.S. military capabilities in the Pacific significantly.

“Having an ISR capability within the Pacific greatly enhances Air Force operational intelligence capabilities to meet mission requirements,” Gen. North said during the ceremony. “In addition, the Global Hawk will enhance the U.S. and its partners’ ability to effectively address regional challenges such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, terrorism and piracy.”

The basing of the long-range drone at Guam “will support ongoing regional partnerships and reaffirm to U.S. friends, allies, and partner nations of our commitment to continue modernization efforts and force structure to support maintaining peace and stability in the region,” Gen. North said.

The ceremony marked the deployment of the first of three Global Hawks, with the other two planned to arrive in the coming months. The aircraft will be launched and landed at Andersen and flown by crews at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

The surveillance drone can fly for 36 hours without landing and has a range of up to 15,000 miles.