New Details About Secretive RQ-170 Sentinel Drone Squadron Shared With New Award

The Air & Space Forces Association named the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron its 2025 remotely piloted aircraft squadron of the year, revealing rare details about a unit known to operate the RQ-170 Sentinel. The squadron flew 87 intelligence missions across three areas of responsibility, supported urgent forward deployments, completed six major exercises and accelerated aircrew qualification. It also moved 250 tons of personnel, equipment and highly classified material across four combatant commands, underscoring the continuing value of low-observable reconnaissance even though the specific operations and aircraft assignments remain classified.