MQ-9 Reaper vs RQ-4 Global Hawk
The RQ-4 Global Hawk almost doubles the MQ-9 Reaper's wingspan: 39.9 metres against 20.1. It also flies far longer distances, with a reference range of 22,780 km against 1,850. But they do different jobs: the Global Hawk is an unarmed high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft whose 1,360 kg payload is sensors, while the Reaper can carry about 1,701 kg of external stores, including weapons.
RQ-4 Global Hawk is 2 times larger than MQ-9 Reaper
Reference range: a 12.3× difference.
Size to scale
Reference range
MQ-9 Reaper — 1,850 km
RQ-4 Global Hawk — 22,780 km
Logarithmic scale from 1 km to 100,000 km.
Payload or warhead
MQ-9 Reaper — 1,701 kg
RQ-4 Global Hawk — 1,360 kg
Logarithmic scale from 1 kg to 10,000 kg.
MQ-9 Reaper
20.1 m · 1,850 km · 1,701 kg
USAF fact sheet: 3,750 lb of external payload.
RQ-4 Global Hawk
39.9 m · 22,780 km · 1,360 kg
USAF fact sheet; high-altitude reconnaissance, unarmed.
* Open-source estimate. Range may be control-link, flight or ferry range depending on the system; it is not a combat radius.
Figures used and how reliable they are
- MQ-9 Reaper: 20.1 m, 1,850 km, 1,701 kg. USAF fact sheet: 3,750 lb of external payload.
- RQ-4 Global Hawk: 39.9 m, 22,780 km, 1,360 kg. USAF fact sheet; high-altitude reconnaissance, unarmed.
Related comparisons
- Bayraktar TB2 vs MQ-9 Reaper
- MQ-1 Predator vs MQ-9 Reaper
- Black Hornet vs Global Hawk
- FPV drone vs Shahed-136
Compare any other pair in the military drone comparison, with its full method. More context: Modern warfare · Weapons · All tools
Sources / References
- U.S. Air Force official fact sheets for the MQ-1, MQ-9 and RQ-4.
- Baykar, AeroVironment and Teledyne FLIR public product sheets.
- RUSI reports on drone use in Ukraine.
- CSIS and IISS open-source analysis of Shahed, Lancet and Orlan.