Japan received the last RQ-4B Global Hawk strategic drone under a $500 million contract

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has added a new model to its fleet of Global Hawk strategic drones. On

Last week, the third and final drone was delivered.

What is known

Japan decided to improve intelligenceopportunities by ordering three RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles from Northrop Grumman in 2015. Deliveries began in 2022. The first RQ-4B took to the skies at the end of December.

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グローバルホーク到着！！
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６月３０日、#防衛省・自衛隊 # #グローバルホーク の３機目がpic.twitter.com/QwrZrjeA7J

— 防衛省・自衛隊 (@ModJapan_jp) June 30, 2023

The cost of one drone was more than $100 million. The contract, worth approximately $500 million, also includes flight test support, two ground control stations, spare parts and additional equipment.

The Northrop Grumman drone can carrypayload weighing more than 1300 kg. The power reserve is over 22,000 km. The RQ-4B Global Hawk is capable of reaching a speed of 637 km/h and rising to an altitude of approximately 20 km.