New World Record: Longest Drone Flight

New World Record: Longest Drone Flight

This post is also available in: heעברית (Hebrew)

Northrop Grumman UAV series, which includes the U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk , set a new record for mission hours flown in one week. The operational platforms, logged 665 hours flying operational and exercise missions during the week ending Feb. 23.

Global Hawk (NASA)
Global Hawk (NASA)

The company’s HALE (High Altitude, Long Endurance) UAV series have exceeded 110,000 total flight hours supporting diverse global missions. More than 87 percent of those missions were for the Air Force, others were for the U.S. Navy, NASA and other customers.

Unmanned Systems Event 2014 – Israel

AUS&R-2014  650x80

“Global Hawk is in operation today, setting performance records that are benefiting customers around the world,” said Mick Jaggers, Global Hawk UAS Program Director, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. In 2013, Global Hawk flew an average of 433.8 hours a week. The weekly record of 665 hours set in February 2014 is 53 percent above last year’s average.

The system’s increased flight hours combined with stable support costs continue to drive down flight hour costs. The aircraft costs between 130-230 million dollars, depends on the payloads it carries. The payloads themselves weigh 910 kg! The Global Hawk is capable of covering about 100,000 sq. km per day, with 32 of them operated by the U.S. Air Force around the world. The drone’s body is made of aluminum while its wings are made of composite materials.

Source: AUVSI website.