A group of 15 Allies are acquiring the AGS system comprised of five NATO RQ-4D remotely piloted aircraft and the associated European-sourced ground command and control stations. NATO will operate and maintain them on behalf of all NATO Allies. The AGS NATO RQ-4D aircraft is based on the US Air Force Block 40 Global Hawk. It has been uniquely adapted to NATO requirements to provide a state-of-the-art Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability to NATO.
The main operating base for AGS is located at the Sigonella Air Base in Italy, which serves as a NATO Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance deployment base. While the majority of the AGS personnel operate from Italy, a small number of AGS staff are based at Allied Command Operations in Mons, Belgium and at Headquarters Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany.