NATO AGS RQ-4D Phoenix reaches IOC
In February 2021, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, General Tod Wolters, declared the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft initially operationally capable (IOC) to conduct missions.
The NATO-owned and operated aircraft enables the Alliance to perform persistent surveillance over wide areas from high-altitude long-endurance aircraft, operating at considerable distances and in any weather or light condition. Using advanced radar sensors, these systems will continuously detect and track moving objects and will provide radar imagery of areas of interest and stationary objects. All 30 NATO Allies will have access to the intelligence they generate.
In 2009, NATO announced that it expected to have a fleet of up to eight Global Hawks by 2012 to be equipped with MP-RTIP radar systems. NATO had budgeted USD 1.4 billion for the project and a letter of intent was signed. A contract for five Block 40 Global Hawks was signed in May 2012. The first RQ-4D arrived at Sigonella Air Base, Sicily (Italy) on 21 November 2019 and in November 2020, the final aircraft arrived.
The serials of the RQ-4Ds are: MM AV-SA-0014, MM AV-SA-0015, MM AV-SA-0016, MM AV-SA-0017 and MM AV-SA-0018.
When the aircraft were delivered, the MM prefix was "painted" as CSX, which later changed to MT and finally to MM. Further explanation on the letters used is: AV = Aerial Vehicle, S = Strategico or Strategic, referring to APR (Aeromobile a Pilotaggio Remoto or UAV) with a weight higher than 500 kgs, subdivided in : SA for a flight level of above 15,000 mts and SB for those till 8,000 mts.
Photo: NATO