RQ-4 Global Hawk: Cost, Contracts & Timeline

Cost to the Government

Cost figures
Measure	Amount	Source
Program totals · 1
RQ-4 annual RDT&EPE0305220F; annual research funding, not lifetime R&D.	$6.171M / yrNominal $; source budget basis	FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027
Unit costs · 1
Historical average procurement / aircraftCRS reports $122.8M in FY2014 dollars. Procurement average includes program procurement scope; not a current replacement or export-package price.	$122.8MConstant FY2014 $	Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Roles, Missions, and Future Concepts, R47067 Congressional Research Service · figure FY2014 figure cited by CRS
Quantities · 2
U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.	Not established	—
U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.	Not established	—
Operating costs · 1
Reimbursement / flight hourOther DoD Component rate. Billing reference, not fully burdened operating cost or proof of operational status.	$1,962 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component	FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026

Program totals · 1

RQ-4 annual RDT&EPE0305220F; annual research funding, not lifetime R&D.
FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027
$6.171M / yrNominal $; source budget basis

Unit costs · 1

Historical average procurement / aircraftCRS reports $122.8M in FY2014 dollars. Procurement average includes program procurement scope; not a current replacement or export-package price.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Roles, Missions, and Future Concepts, R47067 Congressional Research Service · figure FY2014 figure cited by CRS
$122.8MConstant FY2014 $

Quantities · 2

U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.
Source not recorded
Not established
U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.
Source not recorded
Not established

Operating costs · 1

Reimbursement / flight hourOther DoD Component rate. Billing reference, not fully burdened operating cost or proof of operational status.
FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026
$1,962 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component

Earlier observations · 3

Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.

Earlier cost observations
Measure	Amount	Source
Program totals · 1
RQ-4 annual RDT&EPE0305220F; annual research funding, not lifetime R&D.	$6.171M / yrNominal $; source budget basis	FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027
Unit costs · 1
Historical average procurement / aircraftCRS reports $122.8M in FY2014 dollars. Procurement average includes program procurement scope; not a current replacement or export-package price.	$122.8MConstant FY2014 $	Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Roles, Missions, and Future Concepts, R47067 Congressional Research Service · figure FY2014 figure cited by CRS
Operating costs · 1
Reimbursement / flight hourOther DoD Component rate. Billing reference, not fully burdened operating cost or proof of operational status.	$1,962 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component	FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026

Program totals · 1

RQ-4 annual RDT&EPE0305220F; annual research funding, not lifetime R&D.
FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027
$6.171M / yrNominal $; source budget basis

Unit costs · 1

Historical average procurement / aircraftCRS reports $122.8M in FY2014 dollars. Procurement average includes program procurement scope; not a current replacement or export-package price.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Roles, Missions, and Future Concepts, R47067 Congressional Research Service · figure FY2014 figure cited by CRS
$122.8MConstant FY2014 $

Operating costs · 1

Reimbursement / flight hourOther DoD Component rate. Billing reference, not fully burdened operating cost or proof of operational status.
FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026
$1,962 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component

Aircraft blocks are not interchangeable

CRS separates communications-relay and reconnaissance configurations and describes retirement proposals by block. Its historical inventory narrative is not used as a 2026 operational count.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Roles, Missions, and Future Concepts, R47067 Congressional Research Service

Hourly reimbursement is a narrow cost measure

The DoD billing schedule excludes many ownership costs. It should not be compared directly with acquisition averages or interpreted as an all-in mission cost.

FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller

International buyers · 1

International buyers
Country	Qty	Status	Source
United StatesPurchases and program plans are not a current operational inventory.	Not verified	U.S. program customer	Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Roles, Missions, and Future Concepts, R47067 Congressional Research Service · figure Dated source snapshot

Open research: Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book. Current U.S. operational inventory was not established; dated purchases, deliveries and plans remain separate.

What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.

Contracts$5.19B obligated since FY2008

Explore in Awards →

Contractors5

Northrop Grumman$5.00B 96%
RTX$190M 3.7%
Serco Inc.$2.9M 0.1%
Boeing$1.1M 0.0%
BAE Systems$607K 0.0%

Awards50

Sort

Government awards. Select a sortable column heading to sort.
								Conf.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	IGF::OT::IGF MS-177 INTERIM CONTRACTOR SUPPORT (ICS) UNDEFINITIZED CONTRACTING ACTION (UCA) ISSUANCE	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 17, 2018	$7.5M	$12.4M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK FMS JAPAN	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Oct 5, 2017	$566M	$1.02B	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT III, GLOBAL HAWK, MS-177 10-BAND INTEGRATION ITEMS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 2, 2017	$71.0M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	MS-177 SPARES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 29, 2017	$7.5M	$7.5M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT IC, GLOBAL HAWK, WEATHER RADAR&VPC2I RETROFIT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 20, 2017	$43.5M	$43.3M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
RTX	ACAT 1C, GLOBAL HAWK, EISS UPGRADES	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Aug 31, 2017	$42.2M	$43.0M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Collins Aerospace	MS-177A PRODUCTION	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Aug 25, 2017	$79.4M	$1.6M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	IGF::OT::IGF ACAT 1C, GLOBAL HAWK, ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 8, 2017	$70.0M	$70.4M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	IGF::OT::IGF TECHNICAL ORDER MANAGEMENT AGENCY (TOMA) SUPPORT AND PLANNING	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 23, 2017	$4.9M	$8.9M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	PHOENIX FLIR CAMERA	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Nov 22, 2016	$4.7M	$4.7M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	IGF::OT::IGF ACAT 1C, GLOBAL HAWK, FLIGHT TEST SERVICES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 14, 2016	$76.8M	$93.2M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT II, GROUND SEGMENT MODERNIZATION PROGRAM (GSMP)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 1, 2016	$467M	$3.8M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Collins Aerospace	MS-177 (MULTI-SPECTRAL) TEN BAND NRE DEVELOPMENT	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Jun 1, 2016	$63.8M	$69.8M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT II, GLOBAL HAWK, INCORPORATE CR 22318, AIRBORNE SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE PAYLOAD (ASIP) AND MAU	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 14, 2016	$65.9M	$29.6M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	IGF::CL,CT::IGF CY16 AIRCREW TRAINING&SYSTEM SUPPORT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jan 22, 2016	$9.9M	$7.5M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	BLOCK 30 INITIAL SPARES BUY	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 30, 2015	$53.7M	$107M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	BLOCK 30 EPIC SPARES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 30, 2015	$6.3M	$6.3M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	2- BUILDING-BASED LAUNCH AND RECOVERY ELEMENTS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 25, 2015	$16.4M	$16.4M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK, ACAT 1, FMS ROK	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Dec 16, 2014	$635M	$637M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	BLOCK 40 INITIAL SPARES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 24, 2014	$78.0M	$78.1M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT 1D, GLOBAL HAWK, INTEGRATED FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITY/SOFTW	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 31, 2014	$23.0M	$35.0M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL HAWK SPECIFIC UNIQUE PLANNING COMPONENT TO INTEGRATE INTO EXISTING JOINT MISSION PLANNING SYSTEM.	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 1, 2014	$17.7M	$18.2M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	IGF::CL,CT::IGF CY14 AIRCREW TRAINING&SYSTEM SUPPORT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jan 8, 2014	$5.4M	$3.3M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT 1D, GLOBAL HAWK, IDIQ TO1	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 14, 2013	$148M	$93.1M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT 1D, GH, IDIQ TASK ORDER 2, FLIGHT TEST SERVICES AND GHSC MAINTENANCE	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 14, 2013	$80.8M	$112M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK RQ-4 AIRCREW TRAINING SYSTEM CONTRACTOR SUPPORT CY13	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jan 15, 2013	$5.9M	$4.4M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	PILOT TRAINING	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 15, 2012	$4.8M	$5.1M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	STE-4	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Nov 28, 2011	$3.6M	$3.6M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	BACN TEST SPARES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 3, 2011	$10.4M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	FOL/MOB STANDUP AND ACTIVATION PLANNING SUPPORT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 15, 2010	$3.4M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ACAT 1D LOT 8 AIRBORNE SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE PAYLOAD (ASIP) AND INTEGRATE INTO GLOBAL HAWK PRODUCTION AIR VEHICLE AF-30	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Dec 13, 2010	$355M	$333M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK 2008 INITIAL SPARES PART B	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 29, 2010	$69.9M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	BLOCK 10 SPARES BUY	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 7, 2010	$6.5M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK LRIP LOT 10 CONTRACT WITH ADVANCE PROCUREMENT LONG LEAD	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	May 20, 2010	$526M	$28.1M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK LRIP LOT 9 PAYLOADS AND SPARES PRODUCTION UCA MODIFICATION	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	May 20, 2010	$315M	$112M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	AC RETROFIT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 30, 2010	$4.4M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK BOA '08, 2008 BREAKOUT OF INITIAL SPARES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 23, 2009	$24.0M	$24.0M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	PSE FOR FOL GLOBAL HAWK BOA '08	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 21, 2009	$7.1M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK BOA '08, GROUND SEGMENT AND AIR VEHICLE SPARES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 30, 2009	$14.6M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	PROVIDE GLOBAL HAWK LONG RANGE RETROFIT PLANNING AND SUSTAINMENT RETROFIT MANAGEMENT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 28, 2009	$4.3M	$5.3M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	LOT 9 BASIC CONTRACT WITH SELECTED LONG LEAD	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Apr 22, 2009	$187M	$106M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	OPERATIONS&MAINTENANCE SUPPORT	U.S. Navy	Definitive Contract	Apr 7, 2009	$34.9M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	GLOBAL HAWK SUSTAINMENT BRIDGE CONTRACT (SBC)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 1, 2008	$137M	$0	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	LOT 8 ADVANCE PURCHASE	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Apr 2, 2008	$303M	—	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	DEPOT ACTIVATION UCA	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 1, 2008	$46.3M	$46.8M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	FY08 CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jan 31, 2008	$32.8M	$35.0M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	LRIP LOT 7 VOUGH&HEROUX LL	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Dec 19, 2007	$336M	$388M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	EURO HAWK CETS	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Nov 16, 2007	$11.2M	$13.3M	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	TAS::97 0100::TAS 200511!386943!1700!N00019!NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND !N0001905C0057 !A!N! !N! ! !20050831!20051130!186618869!186618869!016435559!N!NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION !17066 GOLDENTOP RD !SAN DIEGO !CA!92150!60650!037!24!PATUXENT RIVER NAS !ST. MARY S !MARYLAND !+000003622729!N!N!000003622729!AC16!RDTE/AIRCRAFT-MANAGEMENT SUPPORT !A1A!AIRFRAMES AND SPARES !252 !GLOBAL HAWK !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !20200930!B! ! !A! !D!U!U!1!001!N!1A!Z!N!Z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !A!A!A!A!000!A!B!N! ! ! !Y!1700!N00019!0001! !	U.S. Navy	Definitive Contract	Oct 29, 2007	$59.8M	$0	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported
Pratt & Whitney	POP EXTENSION	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Oct 17, 2007	$5.0M	$0	RQ-4 Global Hawk	Reported

Obligations are signed USAspending prime-contract actions coded to this program, FY2008 to date, credited to the company that received each action. Obligations are money committed, not company revenue.

U.S. Air Force →

Cost to the Government

Program totals · 1

Unit costs · 1

Quantities · 2

Operating costs · 1

Program totals · 1

Unit costs · 1

Operating costs · 1

Aircraft blocks are not interchangeable

Hourly reimbursement is a narrow cost measure

Contracts$5.19B obligated since FY2008

Contractors5

Awards50

More U.S. Air Force Programs