The Eurohawk is the nickname given to the German version of the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed for the United States Air Force with the aim of being used in high-altitude aerial surveillance missions. Its design and role is similar to that of the legendary U-2, the first spy plane in history, which took to the skies in the 1950s. The Eurohawk has a synthetic aperture radar with which it can penetrate even clouds and sand storms. In addition, it is equipped with powerful optical and infrared sensors to monitor large areas of land for long periods of time.

This unmanned aircraft can fly semi-autonomously or manually controlled by an operator on the ground and since the first experimental flight in 2001. Its use has been mainly for military purposes, but also scientific. In fact, since 2007, NASA has used it in different scientific missions such as the exploration of Antarctica or measurements of ozone levels in the atmosphere.

In the military field, the RQ-4 has been used mainly by the USAF in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, providing information to ground troops, as well as guidance for precision attacks. In addition, it was used for localization and data collection tasks after the Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused extensive damage in Japan. It was even used to fly over reactor No. 4 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The German version of the Goblal Hawk, the Eurohawk, has been substantially improved with more powerful radar and sensors, making it more efficient in reconnaissance missions than the original prototype used by the USAF.

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Since 2009, NATO has begun using this type of aircraft to carry out high-altitude aerial surveillance missions. Although so far, in Europe it has only occasionally used the devices of the Luftwaffe, Germany’s air force.

Spain does not have UAVs of this capacity, but the Air Force has announced that in October 2012 one of the German Eurohawks will arrive at the Morón Air Base. According to what has been announced, it will be a temporary measure, as part of a collaboration agreement between the German and Spanish governments. This unmanned aircraft is also expected to participate in the NATO maneuvers that will take place the same month in the Strait of Gibraltar.