RQ-170 Sentinel

The RQ-170 Sentinel is a low-observable reconnaissance and surveillance unmanned aircraft system developed by Lockheed Martin. Operated by the U.S. Air Force, it is known as an ISR platform with a sensitive mission profile and limited publicly available technical information.

Its tailless flying-wing configuration and low radar observability are intended to support reconnaissance missions in contested or highly protected airspace with a reduced risk of detection. The system is generally regarded as an intelligence and surveillance platform rather than an armed UCAV.

Much of the RQ-170’s sensor suite, communications architecture and performance data has not been publicly disclosed. It is therefore reasonable to describe the platform as supporting target detection, localisation and ISR missions, but specific radar, camera or electronic-intelligence subsystems should not be attributed to it without confirmation.

Official information about Sentinel’s operational use and mission details remains limited, so the classified fields in the Plarok record have been retained as Classified. The platform is primarily associated with low-observable reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence support for command authorities.