A classified U.S. RQ-180 stealth drone was reportedly sighted landing at a Greek air base, marking a rare public observation of the highly secretive aircraft. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the RQ-180 is an unarmed reconnaissance UAV designed for deep penetration into contested airspace. Its flying-wing configuration resembles a smaller B-2 Spirit bomber, with a wingspan of approximately 130 feet and length estimated at 50-60 feet.
The platform operates at altitudes exceeding 60,000 feet, potentially up to 70,000 feet, for extended durations, including 24-hour missions at ranges up to 2,423 miles. Weighing around 15 tons at takeoff with a maximum takeoff weight of 44,533 pounds, it employs all-aspect stealth features, including aerodynamically efficient cranked-kite design, top-side arcing jet inlets, and coatings to evade radar across wide frequencies. These enhancements surpass detectability challenges faced by F-22, F-35, or B-2.
Equipped with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, the RQ-180 gathers ground moving target indication (GMTI), synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, and electronic intelligence (ELINT) via passive antennas and interferometry. It detects radio frequency emissions, geolocates threats, and supports real-time networking to distribute intelligence across battlefield assets. Additional capabilities include high-bandwidth secure communications and latent electronic attack functions.
First revealed in 2013, the RQ-180 achieved initial operational capability around 2017, with detachments at Beale AFB, Edwards AFB, and Andersen AFB in Guam. The Greek sighting underscores its global deployment for persistent ISR in hostile environments.