Northrop EQ-4B BACN Communications Relay Variant
The EQ-4B was a Global Hawk Block 20 configuration carrying the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node payload. Converted from RQ-4 aircraft, it served as a high-altitude, long-endurance communications relay and gateway, translating and extending links between deployed air, ground, and maritime forces before the Air Force divested the EQ-4B fleet and consolidated BACN operations on E-11A aircraft.
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Identity
- Aliases
- EQ-4BEQ-4Global Hawk BACNBACN Global Hawk
- Family Name
- EQ-4B BACN
- Full Name
- Northrop EQ-4B BACN Communications Relay Variant
- Roles
- militarycommunicationsreconnaissance
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Crew Capacity
- 3
- Cruise Speed Kph
- 661
- Empty Mass Kg
- 6,781
- Endurance Hours
- 34
- Max Payload Mass Kg
- 1,360
- Max Takeoff Mass Kg
- 14,628
- Operating Modes
- land
- Range Km
- 22,780
- Service Ceiling M
- 18,288
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- conventional
- Description
- The EQ-4B was a Global Hawk Block 20 configuration carrying the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node payload. Converted from RQ-4 aircraft, it served as a high-altitude, long-endurance communications relay and gateway, translating and extending links between deployed air, ground, and maritime forces before the Air Force divested the EQ-4B fleet and consolidated BACN operations on E-11A aircraft.
- Dimensions
- Height M
- 4.7
- Length M
- 14.5
- Wingspan M
- 39.8
- Parent Vehicle Family
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 04:03:15 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 04:03:15 UTC