RQ-4 UAV

Mission — RQ-4 UAV source

The RQ-4B Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance, all-weather, day/night Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform delivering Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-based Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) and Maritime Mode Target Indicator (MMTI)capabilities to the warfighter. To win high-end conflict, the future force design must deliver ISR capabilities and concepts of operation that can survive against peer/near-peer threats in highly contested environments. To accomplish this, in FY 2026 the USAF will focus on maximizing the Block 40's value to the DoD until divestiture. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024 0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element. In FY 2025, civilian pay expenses are 2.096M in this program element. In FY 2026, RQ-4 execution will transition to O&M, supporting sustainment profile until divestment. This program element may include necessary emergent or unanticipated Product Support Costs (PSC) and civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver RQ-4 program for emergent or unanticipated weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Mission — RQ-4 Capability Enhancements source

Funding in this project supports design, development, integration, and testing of capabilities needed to maintain Block 40 capabilities and maximize system performance until divestment, including reliability and maintainability improvements. Funding also supports continuing aircraft airframe updates, aircraft operations surety, cybersecurity, information assurance, and mission critical repair of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). This project includes systems engineering/program management, configuration and data management, test and evaluation, management services, Deficiency Report (DR)/Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Investigations, studies and analysis and fielding support for RQ-4 aircraft and Ground Segment/Communication Systems. The project also ensures compliance with DoD cybersecurity network requirements to operate in the DoD Information Network (DoDIN). This reflects contracting/acquisition strategy for these common elements within the Global Hawk program to provide efficiencies. Activities include required airspace, interoperability and communication updates, periodic Operational Flight Program releases, airframe and software upgrades, sensor enhancements including data distribution and storage, enhancements to support multi-domain contested environment operations, Authority to Operate surety enhancements, and studies and analysis supporting system maintenance and divestment. The RQ-4 program will maintain interoperability with system of systems partners and continue to incorporate applicable synergies with other platforms, other RPA weapon systems, and Processing, Exploitation & Dissemination (PED) elements. The networking capability for intelligence dissemination is required to provide the data transport interface between the Weapons System, Operations Centers, and external Intelligence Community customers. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024, 0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element. In FY 2025, civilian pay expenses are 2.096M in this program element. In FY 2026, RQ-4 execution will transition to O&M, supporting sustainment profile until divestment. This program element may include necessary emergent or unanticipated Product Support Costs (PSC) and civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver RQ-4 program for emergent or unanticipated weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)