While some commanders would like tactical vehicles to be able to operate from forward areas without sealed runways, their extended range capability means they can be deployed from fields well back from the "front" - areas which often have the required airfield type. Once on station they can remain for up to 24hrs, (depending on distance from base) being relieved in situ by other UAVs giving extended round the clock coverage. It's estimated that a section equipped with four such aircraft could theoretically maintain continuous surveillance over an area for up to 30 days.

The RQ-4A Global Hawk has already proven itself capable of extended range operations. On May 7, 2001, a development model flew from the west coast of the USA to South Australia in a flight lasting 26hrs. The deployment was intended to give operators experience in long range operations and to test the aircraft's suitability for surveillance along Australia's North West coastline. It was during this deployment the Global Hawk test schedule passed the 1000hrs accrued flight time mark - indicative of the relative infancy of this program. After the deployment flight it went on to fly surveillance missions off northern Australia, plus missions covering joint Australian US Military excercises. Information from these sorties remains classified, however one source has suggested that it demonstrated an ability to detect people smuggling vessels operating to Australia’s north. As such its potential to replace or supplement P3C Orions on this task are now making Hawk a likely contender for Australian use. Being considerably cheaper to operate, this could relieve pressure on the already stretched Orion Squadrons. RAAF Tindal has already been tipped as a likely forward operational base for an Australian Global Hawk system, permitting extensive operations to our north and north west.

In the USA there has been considerable pressure to bring the system up to operational status. In Operation Enduring Freedom, two Global Hawks were deployed to provide surveillance over Afghanistan. Their operational base has not been revealed, however it's suspected they are flying out of Pakistan. The results from these aircraft were reported to be "above expectations."

In late December 2001, one Global Hawk crashed while returning from a surveillance mission of Afghanistan, the cause of its loss is unknown but suspected to be system failure rather than enemy action (The Hawk was at "around" 40,000ft when the problem developed). A replacement was rushed to the area and they both continue to fly in support of the ongoing operations there.

Although Global Hawk is not yet considered fully "mission" qualified, its use in theatres such as Afghanistan no doubt accelerated the learning curve. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz acknowledged that the Pentagon needed more drones and should accelerate the program to improve their performance and bring them into the inventory.