Global Hawk spy plane to arrive in September

This undated U.S. Air Force file photo released on June 20 shows a RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. AFP-Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

The Republic of Korea Air Force will be equipped with the RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk aircraft starting in September, according to Seoul's military officials.

Produced by the California-based defense firm Northrop Grumman, the RQ-4 Block 30 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Global Hawk is one of the most advanced intelligence-gathering platforms.

Seoul confirmed the upcoming arrival of the Global Hawk aircraft after the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) under the U.S. State Department announced July 30 its approval of the $950 million (1.15 trillion won) sale of the unmanned spy drone to South Korea.

“This proposed sale will enable the Republic of Korea to sustain and operate its fleet of RQ-4 Block 30 RPAs and will significantly advance U.S. interests in standardization with the Republic of Korea's Armed Forces,” the DSCA said in a statement. “The potential sale will further strengthen the interoperability between the United States and the Republic of Korea and ensure the alliance has a robust intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability on the Korean Peninsula.”

The deployment of the Global Hawk is expected to strengthen South Korea's Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, one of the three-axis air defense system of the military together with the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan.

“The Global Hawk reconnaissance asset carries out missions at high altitudes which the South Korean military could not do before,” said Shin Jong-woo, a senior analyst at the Korea Defense and Security Forum. “The aircraft can detect around half of the North Korean territory, around 200 kilometers, from around the military demarcation line without getting inside North Korean airspace.”

The Global Hawk, which has long-endurance intelligence-collection capabilities to stay in the air more than 34 hours at a time, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that performs reconnaissance missions at high altitudes of up to 18 kilometers. It is 14.5 meters long and 4.7 meters high with the wingspan being 39.8 meters.

It provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and long-range electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors. It supports theater operations, enabling more precise weapons targeting and better protection of friendly forces.

In 2014, South Korea and the U.S. agreed on the deal that included four RQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft, two spare engines and ground control equipment. The price including R&D is estimated at around $222.7 million