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The U.S. Air Force permanently relocated its RQ-4B Global Hawks from Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam, to Yokota Air Base, Japan, the 374th Airlift Wing announced on Jun. 15, 2026<\/a>. The aircraft are operated by the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (4th RS), a geographically separated unit of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing (319th RW).<\/p>\n The aircraft moved there to Japan between May 25 and 27, based on the images released<\/a> on the DVIDS network. The unit routinely conducted a summer move to Yokota to find more favorable weather during typhoon season, however this time it was decided to make the move permanent to offer a persistent in-theater Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) support to U.S. and Allied forces in the region.<\/p>\n The 374th AW is the host unit at Yokota AB, which operates C-130J Super Hercules with the 36th Airlift Squadron and C-12J Huron with the 419th Airlift Squadron. The already oversees unmanned aircraft with the MQ-9 Reapers of the 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron based at Kadena AB.<\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, the three RQ-4B Block 40 Global Hawks of the 4th RS are a well known presence at Yokota AB because of their summer deployments. The unit has also been conducting Agile Combat Employment (ACE) deployments to various locations throughout Japan, mentions the 4th RS official page<\/a>.<\/p>\n U.S. Pacific Air Forces has permanently relocated the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron\u2019s RQ-4 Global Hawks from Guam to Yokota Air Base. The move improves weather resiliency during typhoon season & enhances intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance support across the Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com\/OCZpVf0q5O<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Yokota Air Base (@TeamYokota) June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The latest press mentions that the relocation is timed with favorable weather in Japan\u2019s Kanto region during the typhoon season, which affects Guam harder. Compared to Yokota, Andersen is further east into the western Pacific.<\/p>\n \u201cThis ensures persistent reconnaissance in a region where challenges to a free and open Indo-Pacific continue to increase,\u201d the statement said, referring to the strategic confrontations with China. PLA Navy and PLA Air Force activity have largely concentrated in the First Island Chain right outside its shores around Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines with whom Beijing has several conflicting maritime claims.<\/p>\n The statement outlined the Global Hawk\u2019s mission to support the broad range of ISR collection missions for American, friendly militaries and joint forces in \u201cworldwide peacetime, contingency, and crisis operations.\u201d Commander of the 4th RS Lt. Col. Adam Otten praised Yokota\u2019s facilities for both the deployment and their families.<\/p>\n \u201cYokota Air Base is the right location to support current and future RQ-4 operations in the theater, while upholding the quality of life of our Airmen and families,\u201d Otten said. He also thanked Guam and the Andersen AFB community for hosting the Global Hawk in the past sixteen years. \u201cWe are excited to be here, and we are confident that the unit will thrive alongside Team Yokota,\u201d Otten added.<\/p>\n The release described the Global Hawk as a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE)-class Remotely Piloted aerial reconnaissance system that provides \u201cpersistent, day and night, high resolution, all weather imagery of large geographic areas with an array of integrated sensors and cameras.\u201d<\/p>\n The aircraft can fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet for at least 24 hours and has Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground-Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) sensors to be used as an Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) platform. This is further enhanced by a satellite-enabled Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) control link.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 4th RS\u2019s RQ-4Bs are controlled by the 319th Operations Group, home-based at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota. The aircraft are launched and recovered by personnel at the deployed location, with mission control at Grand Forks taking over subsequently, the 319th OG had explained in a September 2024 release about RQ-4B operations<\/a> from Andersen AFB.<\/p>\n The U.S. is not the only operator of the drone in the region, as the service also announced on Mar. 12, 2022<\/a>, the first arrival of an RQ-4B at Japan\u2019s Misawa Air Base, which was one of the three RQ-4B Block 30 acquired by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). \u201cThe addition of this aircraft to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force\u2019s inventory directly supports the defense of Japan and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,\u201d said the service.<\/p>\n #KeenSword25<\/a> | Misawa Elephant Walk \u2014 U.S. Forces Japan (@USForcesJapan) November 4, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Interestingly, the development comes as the Department of War announced the restoration<\/a> of the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) theater command\u2019s original designation, the Pacific Command (PACOM). President Donald Trump\u2019s first administration introduced the INDOPACOM designation in 2018, capturing India\u2019s partnership in the overall confrontation with China and encompassing the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).<\/p>\n While the RQ-4B\u2019s move to Yokota might just be coincidental, the reversal to the original designation is perceived as being influenced by the developments in the West Asia conflict. India\u2019s subdued yet official protests over the death of its three merchant mariners aboard the MV Settebello in a U.S. strike marks a sudden tension in ties.<\/p>\n Department of War Restores U.S. Pacific Command Designation.<\/p>\n CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii \u2014 The Department of War announced today that the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) will officially restore its name to the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM).<\/p>\n Originally established on\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ZL0EL3q6Ph<\/a><\/p>\n\n
RQ-4Bs in the Pacific<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nFour USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons, four JASDF F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, four JASDF F-2s, a JASDF E-2D Hawkeye, a JASDF RQ-4B Global Hawk, a U.S. Navy C-12 Huron, & a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon performed an Elephant Walk at Misawa AB. pic.twitter.com\/CfANXoEb3G<\/a><\/p>\nINDOPACOM becomes PACOM again<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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