Pacific Hawk

Japanese military leaders are mulling plans to introduce the Northrop Grumman-built RQ-4 Global Hawk into its aviation fleet, according to recent news reports by the Japanese press. Citing unnamed government and military sources in Tokyo, the Kyodo News reported that senior officials with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) are looking to acquire three Global Hawks total. According to those sources, Japanese military officials want the unmanned aerial vehicles to keep tabs on China's growing military arsenal, as well as North Korea's burgeoning nuclear weapons program.

Inside the Air Force first reported plans of possible Global Hawk sales to Japan, as well as Australia, last month. A senior company official said that Japanese military leaders were considering a three- to four-plane buy, while the Australians were eying procurement of six to 10 Global Hawks modified for maritime use.

These efforts come shortly after the arrival of the first Global Hawk to U.S. Pacific Air Forces in September. The first of three RQ-4s arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam on Sept 20.

When asked about the level of international interest on the RQ-4, particularly by the Australians and Japanese, Lt. Gen. Herbert Carlisle, commander of 13th Air Force -- who has command-and-control authority for all U.S. Pacific Command's air operations -- acknowledged that "there is international interest in the capabilities of this airplane," but declined to go into detail on specific countries.