RQ-4A/B Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System

The RQ-4A/B Global Hawk is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed by the U.S. Air Force for the procurement and sustainment of high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The program follows the Major Capability Acquisition pathway and is designated as an Acquisition Category IC program. The Global Hawk system includes both air vehicles and associated ground control elements, requiring comprehensive logistics support, mission planning capabilities, and specialized training systems.

Contract awards under this program typically range from small purchases of a few thousand dollars for specific components to major system acquisitions exceeding $1 billion. The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command and its subordinate organizations, particularly the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, are the primary contracting authorities. Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation serves as the dominant prime contractor, with significant subcontractor participation from companies including Raytheon, L3Harris Technologies, Goodrich Corporation Mission Systems, and Collins Aerospace. Contract periods of performance generally span 1-5 years, with some extending up to 10 years. The majority of awards are firm-fixed-price or cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts, with no small business set-asides. Major deliverables include aircraft production, sensor integration (including the MS-177 and Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload), spare parts, technical orders, aircrew training, software development, and various engineering services. Primary places of performance include San Diego, California, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.