Global Hawk bases in Guam

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle has been permanently based in the Pacific region by the U.S. Air Force.

The high-altitude aircraft, designated AF-20, landed at its home station in Guam earlier this month after an 18-hour flight from Beale Air Force Base in California, the company said.

"We believe that an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability within the Pacific theater meets the needs of U.S. Air Force operations and will help the U.S. and its partners and allies address common regional challenges such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, terrorism, and piracy," Gen. Gary L. North, commander of the Pacific Air Forces and Air Component for U.S. PACOM, said during a ceremony on the island. "Having the Global Hawk in the Pacific encourages a dialogue for regional cooperation, security and stability in this region."

Northrop Grumman said the historic landing in Guam not only signified the stand-up of a new forward-operating location and first permanent overseas basing of the high-altitude, long-endurance UAS but it also marked the 45,000th flight hour for the Global Hawk program.

In addition to PACOM, Global Hawk has also been forward-deployed to European Command forces at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, where another Block 30 Global Hawk, designated AF-15, arrived Sept. 15.