Northrop Grumman announced Tuesday that the first Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft “performed beautifully” during its maiden test flight in November. This airframe, designated AF-18, flew for approximately two hours from the company’s production facility in Palmdale, Calif., to Edwards Air Force Base during the Nov. 16 mission. AF-18 is the first of 15 Global Hawk Block 40 platforms in USAF’s current program of record. Unlike other Global Hawk configurations, Block 40 aircraft will carry the sophisticated MP-RTIP radar sensor that Northrop and Raytheon are developing for enhanced detection and tracking of moving ground targets from high overhead. The MP-RTIP sensor has completed tests on a surrogate aircraft and will be integrated into AF-18 for operational evaluation, according to the company. Global Hawk Block 40 aircraft will be based at Grand Forks AFB, N.D., starting next year.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.