Definitions
The Global Hawk family's US DoD designation - RQ-4 - may belie the Block 40's true calling. "R" is the Pentagon's designator for reconnaissance, .... But the true calling ... is surveillance, not reconnaissance. … Reconnaissance missions are typically more oriented for long-term intelligence-gathering purposes. The surveillance mission is much more integral to the kill chain, with more tactically oriented operations servicing the short-term decision-making process.
“ ” Northrop representative quoted by Flight International (2010)In order to be surveillance, it is critical for the collection system, the target, and the decision maker to be in contact with each other in such a way that the actions of the enemy are relayed in real-time to those who can make decisions to counter the enemy actions.
“ ” from USAF research report, 2001The terms “surveillance” and “reconnaissance” have sometimes been used interchangeably, but, in the military context, a distinction can be drawn between surveillance which monitors a changing situation in real time and reconnaisance which captures a static picture for analysis.
Surveillance is sometimes grouped with Intelligence, Target acquisition and Reconnaissance under the title ISTAR.
Observation was the term used for surveillance when the main sensor was the human eye.
Read more about this topic: Surveillance Aircraft
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