NATO declared on 15 February that its fleet of five Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) remotely piloted aircraft systems had achieved an initial operational capability, meaning that the RQ-4D platforms are now mission ready. Whether they could eventually be deployed beyond NATO and international airspace, however, remains to be seen, said officials. Calling it a "major milestone" for the AGS programme, General Tod Wolters, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), said in a press release that the new capability "will substantially increase the alliance's awareness, indications and warnings of what is happening around its borders". Based in Sigonella, Italy, the platforms were purchased by 15 NATO nations, but will generate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data for sharing among all 30 allies. AGS operates a modified version of Northrop Grumman's Block 40 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle.
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