Grand Forks AFB celebrates arrival of RQ-4 Global Hawk

Airmen from Grand Forks Air Force Base welcome the first RQ-4 Global Hawk to the base May 26. The arrival marked the beginning of a new era of remotely piloted aircraft at the base, which will be maintained under Detachment 1, 9th Reconnaissance Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Johnny Saldivar)

Grand Forks AFB celebrates arrival of RQ-4 Global Hawk

Maj. Gen. Thomas K. Andersen, Headquarters, Air Combat Command director of requirements, speaks during the arrival ceremony of the RQ-4 Global Hawk June 1 at Grand Forks Air Force Base. The arrival marked the beginning of a new era of remotely piloted aircraft at the base, which will be maintained under Detachment 1, 9th Reconnaissance Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suellyn Nuckolls)

Grand Forks AFB celebrates arrival of RQ-4 Global Hawk

Airman from Grand Forks Air Force Base and other ceremony attendees stand before the playing of the National Anthem during the arrival ceremony of the RQ-4 Global Hawk to the base June 1. The arrival marked the beginning of a new era of remotely piloted aircraft at the base, which will be maintained under Detachment 1, 9th Reconnaissance Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber Bennett)

Grand Forks AFB celebrates arrival of RQ-4 Global Hawk

Col. Don Shaffer, 319th Air Base Wing commander, shares opening remarks June 1 during the arrival ceremony of the RQ-4 Global Hawk to the base. The arrival marked the beginning of a new era of remotely piloted aircraft at the base, which will be maintained under Detachment 1, 9th Reconnaissance Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suellyn Nuckolls)

Grand Forks AFB celebrates arrival of RQ-4 Global Hawk

Airmen from Grand Forks Air Force Base salute the American flag during the playing of the National Anthem June 1 shortly before the beginning of the arrival ceremony of the RQ-4 Global Hawk to the base. The arrival marked the beginning of a new era of remotely piloted aircraft at the base, which will be maintained under Detachment 1, 9th Reconnaissance Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber Bennett)

Grand Forks welcomes Global Hawk

Published June 2, 2011
By Airman Derek VanHorn
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Grand Forks Air Force Base celebrated the arrival of the RQ-4 Global Hawk intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance remotely piloted aircraft during a ceremony here June 1.

The ceremony, featuring speaker Maj. Gen. Thomas K. Andersen, Headquarters, Air Combat Command director of requirements, was hosted by Col. Don Shaffer, 319th Air Base Wing commander, and highlighted the beginning of a new era of remotely piloted aircraft at Grand Forks.

"It is an honor to be here; what a great day for Grand Forks and North Dakota -- this is cutting edge technology," said Gen. Andersen. "I'm sure this community will thoroughly enjoy the Global Hawk as a tenant unit on this base, and we're grateful for the support you continue to give our Airman as we look forward to a very, very long relationship.

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is capable of providing government and military decision makers near real-time, high-altitude, long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance imagery that can support a full spectrum of operations. Flying above ordinary commercial traffic, the aircraft can survey large geographic areas with pinpoint accuracy, without impacting civilian aircraft routes. The imagery provides the most current information available during contingency or crisis situations.

"Today is a great day for our team - Team Grand Forks," said Col. Shaffer. "This marks the next step in the long history of the Air Force and what we provide here at this base to the nation's defense: global vigilance."