USAF enlisted personnel to operate Global Hawk UAVs

[Zarvan]

The USAF will allow enlisted service members to operate RQ-4 Global Hawks beginning this year. Source: Kent Rump/Northrop Grumman
Key Points

• The USAF is preparing to allow enlisted personnel to operate ISR UAVs this year
• The change does not extend to armed UAV operations

The US Air Force (USAF) is preparing to allow enlisted personnel to operate Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) this year, according to the service's deputy chief of staff for operations.

Speaking at a 20 January Air Force Association briefing, Lieutenant General Jay Raymond said the service is only opening intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) UAV operator opportunities to enlisted personnel at this time. "We're targeting Global Hawk operations," he toldIHS Jane's . "Today we're focusing on ISR. We'll see where it goes from there."

USAF officials first announced plans in December 2015 to integrate enlisted UAV pilots into the force. "What we learn from flying Global Hawks with enlisted pilots under the supervision of rated officers will inform whether we apply a similar approach to other weapon systems," USAF Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh said at the time. "It is too soon to speculate on any expansion of enlisted aircrew beyond the Global Hawk programme."

Still, the real strain for the air force's UAV force is on General Atomics MQ-1/9 Predator/Reaper crews.

The US Department of Defense in August 2015 announced plans to increase the number of UAV combat air patrols (CAPs) that other services fly over the next four years in order to alleviate the strain on USAF crews.

The USAF has warned that its Predator and Reaper crews have been overburdened owing to the high demand for their work. In order to alleviate the strain on the USAF, the army was directed to conduct 10-20 CAPs, while US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) would fly about 10 and contractors another 10.

The USAF in January 2015 approved an increase in UAV pilot pay from USD650 to USD1,500 per month, and is developing plans for a longer-term retention bonus.

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USAF enlisted personnel to operate Global Hawk UAVs | IHS Jane's 360