NATO RQ-4D Phoenix Surveillance Drone Achieves Full System Handover

Northrop Grumman has completed the full system handover of NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) RQ-4D Phoenix Global Hawk to the NATO AGS Force (NAGSF) at the Main Operating Base in Sigonella, Sicily.

The specially-designed AGS system is tailored to the NATO requirements and will be providing critical Joint ISR situational awareness to the 30 NATO member countries.

The full system handover consisted of five aircraft, ground and support segments, along with advanced sensor technologies. The first of the five aircraft arrived at the main operating base in Sigonella, Italy in 2019.

The RQ-4D Phoenix high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) system provides ubiquitous and unparalleled Joint ISR data to NATO. The wide area surveillance provided by Global Hawk and the fixed, mobile and transportable ground stations in the system support a range of missions, including: protection of ground troops and civilian populations; border control; crisis management; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, every day of the year.