RQ-180 (0edc76de-6c22-5cd9-865b-1c7cc4c995ea)
The Northrop Grumman RQ‑180 is a U.S. Air Force stealth‑unmanned aerial vehicle dedicated to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in contested airspace. First flown in 2010 and entering service in 2017, the jet‑powered platform features a 40‑meter wingspan, 24‑hour endurance and a service ceiling of roughly 60,000 ft. Lacking weapons, it relies on advanced low‑observable design, AESA radar and passive electronic‑surveillance suites to collect SIGINT, ELINT and IMINT while evading modern air‑defence systems. Operated by the 74th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB and the 417th Test & Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB, the RQ‑180 serves as a high‑altitude, long‑range ISR node and potential communications relay for the United States, enhancing situational awareness in denied environments.