According to the press release, the UAV conducted a ferry
non-stop transpacific flight. On Thursday, March 10, the aircraft departed from
Palmdale, California, flew across the Pacific Ocean and landed 18.7 hours later
on March 12.
Japan Air Self-Defence Forces (ASDF) plan to
use the UAV at high-altitude surveillance missions at the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
The RQ-4B may fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet and has an endurance of more
than 32 hours, according to the Northrop Grumman. The aircraft has a range of
22,800 kilometres.
