Global Hawk No. 3 departed from its base in Australia and landed at Edwards AFB on the 20th after a 23-hour flight. The RQ-4 returned from four years of operational duty, where it logged 4,245 combat hours supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and Combined Task Force-Horn of Africa. This tour represented a first in history as the Global Hawk had simultaneously continued its testing while on a prolonged combat tour.
The Global Hawk UAV system comprises the RQ-4 air vehicle, which is outfitted with various equipment such as sensor packages and communication systems; and a ground element consisting of a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE), and a Mission Control Element (MCE) with ground communications equipment.