In recent days, leading up to the war between Ukraine and Russia, the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone has caught the attention of several people, flying over Ukraine for almost 30 hours on several occasions.
The United States Air Force (USAF) unmanned aircraft is a HALE (High Altitude, Long Endurance) drone used in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. This provides additional capabilities for a country's Air Force and Army.
And this drone was literally the pivot of yet another crisis between the United States and Russia this Saturday. Russia's Ministry of Defense has stated that the US is helping Ukraine with surveillance drones that constantly fly over the Black Sea.
In fact, there are several RQ-4 Global Hawk drones in activity in the Black Sea in recent days, in relay scheme. However, the operation is part of NATO surveillance of the area, according to the Pentagon, which denies allegations of using the drones to help Ukraine's navy.
Exchange of accusations between Russia and the United States
“On the night of February 25, during the evacuation of 82 Ukrainian servicemen who voluntarily laid down their weapons from Zmeiny Island [Zmiiny], 16 boats of the Ukrainian Navy, using 'swarm tactics', tried to attack Russia's military ships”, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Saturday. “During the attack by Ukrainian boats over the provocation area, US strategic unmanned aerial vehicles RQ-4 'Global Hawk' and MQ-9A 'Reaper' were overhead.”
“It is highly likely that it was the American UAVs that directed the Ukrainian boats against the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet”, said Konashenkov.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby denied the allegations:
"Russian claims that the United States was somehow involved in Ukrainian naval operations near the island of Zmiiny are false. We do not provide ISR or any other . Put it down to just another lie by the Russian Defense Ministry.”, he told CNN.
Konashenkov also said that six Ukrainian navy boats were destroyed, but that none of the 82 Ukrainian service on the island, also known as Snake Island, were injured. Ukraine denies this, and says that the attack killed 16 Ukrainian soldiers.
The RQ-4/EQ-4 Global Hawk Drone
At the moment the FORTE 11 drone continues to fly over the Black Sea, and the United States has not announced a suspension of peaceful drone missions. follow up Clicking here.
The Global Hawk is one of the largest unmanned aircraft in operation in the world, measuring 15.5 meters in length, 4,7 meters in height and an impressive wingspan of almost 40 meters. Such a large wing allied to the powerful Rolls-Royce F137-RR-100 engine gives the RQ-4 one of its most notable features: a service ceiling of 60 feet (18288 meters) with an autonomy of over 32 hours.
Learn more about the Global Hawk drone in a special article we produce Clicking here.
With information from CNN.
