Global Hawk, global mission
A Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system is towed back to its hangar following a mission Oct. 3 at a deployed location in Southwest Asia. Once mission parameters are programmed into a Global Hawk, the UAS can autonomously taxi, take off, fly, remain on station capturing imagery, return and land. Ground-based operators monitor the UAS's status, and can change navigation and sensor plans during flight as necessary. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Tudor)