Fitted with an array of sensors, the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft can fly at altitudes of up to 20,000 metres for more than 35 hours at a time, while providing high-quality, realtime imagery. According to the aircraft’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman, Global Hawks have already clocked up some 28,000 hours of flying time ‘conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions’ and ‘supporting the US Air Force in the global war on terrorism’; however, this is the first time it has been used for scientific purposes.

Two aircraft are expected to be put into operation during spring and summer this year as part of the Global Hawk Pacific 2009 project, in which they will fly six times across the Pacific and Arctic regions in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.

In the future, the 13.5-metrelong aircraft could also be used in hurricane monitoring, disaster support and monitoring wildfires.

April 2009