Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has been designated as the platform with the best safety record in the U.S. Air Force in 2013.

Detachment 1 of the 69th Reconnaissance Group contributed to that designation as they maintained exceptional vigilance during all Global Hawk aircraft operations, garnering a perfect safety record and a Commander's Flight Safety Award during the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2013.

The team increased their mission rate and achieved a tenfold increase in critical secretary of defense directed on-station intelligence collection.

"Winning this award reflects the commitment of our partnership with the Air Force to always put safety and performance first when flying Global Hawk," said Paul Brophy, Northrop Grumman's Andersen Air Force Base Forward Operating Location Site Manager. "Continually improving our safety programs is clearly a 'win-win' proposition for the company and the Air Force."

Paul Brophy accepted the Commander's Flight Safety Award from Brig. General Garland, Commander 36th Wing, Andersen Air Force Base on behalf of the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk UAS team.

The combat-proven Global Hawk has logged more than 100,000 flight hours and carries a variety of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensor payloads to allow military commanders to gather near real-time imagery and uses radar to detect moving or stationary targets on the ground or at sea.

The system supports antiterrorism, antipiracy, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, airborne communications and information sharing missions.