US PACOM Global Hawks move to Yokota
Five US Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS have been temporarily deployed to Yokota Air Base in Japan, from where they will support US intelligence operations until October 2017, the US Pacific Command announced on 10 May.
The fleet is based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. In the summer months when Guam's inclement weather during the island's typhoon season make operations difficult, the fleet is operated from Misawa Air Base, Japan. As Misawa's runway is currently undergoing construction, the fleet has temporarily moved to Yokota.
The five Global Hawks and approximately 105 support and operations personnel with the 69th Reconnaissance Group Detachment 1 support US intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance requirements, operational plans and contingency operations throughout the Pacific theatre. Global Hawk provides persistent, day and night, high-resolution, all-weather imagery of large geographic areas with its integrated sensor and camera payload.
The fleet has also supported disaster relief and rescue operations in the region, including supporting Operation Tomadachi relief efforts following the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami; and providing reconnaissance of the status of the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
-
![L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms]()
L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms
The new Amorphous software is a universal controller that would allow a single operator to control a swarm of “thousands” of uncrewed systems, from drones to underwater platforms.
-
![ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025]()
ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025
India UAV supplier ideaForge has launched the Netra 5 and Switch V2 drones at Aero India 2025, boasting of enhanced endurance, AI-driven autonomy and improved operational capabilities.
-
![Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market]()
Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market
The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.
-
![Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system]()
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
