Posted on 06/02/2014 4:37:00 AM PDT by blam
David Cenciotti, The Aviationist
May 26, 2014, 12:59 PM
On May 4, the U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted system arrived at Misawa Air Base, Japan, where it is scheduled to operate from May to October 2014.
The huge Northrop Grumman UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) was deployed to Japan to support ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) missions in the Pacific theater. Its operations are carried out by a team of 40 personnel belonging to the 69th Reconnaissance Group, Detachment 1.
The UAS is a temporary replacement for the ISR missions launched from Guam. Those missions are particularly affected by inclement summer weather, and sorties are often cancelled due to typhoons and thunderstorms. Misawa Air Base was selected as an alternate base because of seasonal weather patterns, locally available facilities, and cost.
Even though the primary mission of the Global Hawk will be ISR (“spying”), their presence could be useful to support humanitarian operations in the region. Their humanitarian use was proven during Operation Tomodachi, a relief effort launched in 2011 when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and an accompanying tsunami struck northeastern Japan.
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Gosh, let’s not only supply China with a superb opportunity to embarrass the United States, but let’s tell them where and when. Can’t we do anything in secret anymore?
We do everything in secret it’s just that “we” are keeping the secret from the US electorate.
No doubt Obama sent it there to spy on ex-pat Americans living in Japan.
It’s a shame the USAF doesn’t allow “nose art” any more..imagine what could be done with this drone..I swear it looks like ET..
You don’t think there are any Chinese that live in Misawa?
“You don’t think there are any Chinese that live in Misawa?”
The Air Force managed to move SR-71’s around with little or no notice. They tested Aurora and there’s still nothing on it but speculation. Maybe the Chinese have really good intel or maybe not. But why are we advertising?
Misawa isn’t a very big city and the Air Force shares the runway with the civilian airport. Anyone can see anything that comes or goes.
“Misawa isn’t a very big city and the Air Force shares the runway with the civilian airport. Anyone can see anything that comes or goes.”
Never been there. But since China is usually the subject of interest, or was when I was involved in the support side of this, why did they send it there where the Chinese would be bound to notice. It’s almost like saying, hey, here’s a drone to shoot down so you can further embarrass us and maybe pick up some technology that I (Obama) haven’t been able to send you directly. (Note that he is GIVING laser multi-target designators to the Russians. I guess he has the flexibility now.)
With that wingspan what is the operational ceiling on that sucker?
Don’t know, but I guess it’s better than further south. They should do it from carriers.
“They should do it from carriers.”
I thought about that. But I’ll wager this drone is not built for carrier landings. Its wings are too long and it probably doesn’t have a tail hook. Apparently, it flew from the states, indicating long range. The wingspan indicates high altitude. My first thought, was, can you take off the wings for transport or storage? Probably not.
I'm pretty sure we won't find anything in the press/news that the Chinese don't already know.
Anyway, here's the Aurora Spy Plane.
When I worked on classified projects the FBI came in an briefed us on how the Russians and Chinese did their intel gathering. Yes, the do get a lot from our press, or they did at the time. But since Clinton and Bernie Schwartz, they’d get to look over the actual hardware. Likewise, Obama has given the Russians (given) our multi-targeting laser system for directing battlefield munitions.
The Aurora pictured is an artist’s concept. It is unlikely to have such linear wings and almost certainly won’t have vertical tails as both of those are huge radar reflectors.
Well, better minds are dealing with it than mine.
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