One of Japan’s three RQ-4B Global Hawks crashed in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Tottori Prefecture.
One of the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) three RQ-4B Global Hawks has crashed in the Sea of Japan on Sep. 15, 2026. The airframe in question, 23-6003, took off from Misawa Air Base at around 10:40 AM JST, before losing contact about two hours and 20 minutes later, at around 12:58 PM JST.
A JASDF press release stated that the aircraft was flying over international waters approximately 50 kilometers off the coast of Tottori Prefecture, in western Japan, when the incident occurred. The same report indicated that the aircraft was not conducting a training sortie when the crash occurred, although the exact nature of the flight currently remains undisclosed.
【墜落か？】
航空自衛隊の大型無人偵察機グローバルホークが鳥取県沖で通信途絶 機影もレーダーから消失
現在 北九州空港から海上保安庁の無人機シーガーディアンが付近洋上を捜索中と思われます#グローバルホーク #航空自衛隊 pic.twitter.com/fATKU4Yh0d
— くまはうす (@kumahousecom) September 15, 2026
Aircraft and maritime vessels from the JASDF, JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force), and the Japanese Coast Guard were dispatched as part of the search effort at around 13:29 JST, and the wreckage was located shortly thereafter, at around 14:19 JST. The JASDF reports the participation of two F-15Js, a U-125A, an UH-60J, a KC-46, a Mogami-class frigate, and a Hayabusa-class patrol boat in the search operation, while a Coast Guard MQ-9B was also seen near the crash site on tracking sites like FlightRadar24.
As of 17:00 JST, no damage to vessels operating in the vicinity of the crash has been reported.
The RQ-4
Japan acquired and operates three RQ-4B Global Hawks to provide a High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability. The loss of a single airframe therefore represents a significant strategic reduction to the JASDF’s already limited RQ-4 fleet.
The first aircraft arrived at Misawa Air Base in March 2022, with the type subsequently operated under the JASDF’s Teisatsu-Koukutai (偵察航空隊, literally Reconnaissance Group). The Global Hawk restored a dedicated reconnaissance capability that had been lost by the JASDF following the retirement of the RF-4s in 2020, while also providing far greater endurance and operational flexibility over larger areas.
The JASDF is not the only RQ-4 operator in Japan, however. The USAF has occasionally operated Global Hawks from the island nation since 2017, initially through rotational deployments from Andersen AFB in Guam.
In May 2026, the USAF permanently transitioned the RQ-4 mission from the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron, 319th Operations Group, from Andersen to Yokota. The squadron operates the Block 40 variant of the Global Hawk, supporting U.S. ISR requirements in the region.
2022.9.3 RJTY
オペレータは交代でしょうけど、機体は長時間勤務。
ご苦労様でした。
RQ-4B (11-2049)#横田基地#YokotaAirBase pic.twitter.com/VsUMHpPBcB
— びすた～り (@VNLK555) September 3, 2022
The RQ-4 is also operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and NATO. All airframes operated by the JASDF and ROKAF are of Block 30 standard, whereas the USAF and NATO airframes are of the newer Block 40 standard.
