Northrop Grumman Unveils U.S. Navy’s First MQ-4C Triton

Gestart door jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter), 16/06/2012 | 17:20 uur

Harald

Australia announces trident of Tritons

Australia announced on 18 June that it had firmed up an order for a third Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAV.

Australia commits to third MQ-4C Triton

Canberra has committed to obtaining its third Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS.

"Once in service, this capability will significantly enhance our ability to persistently patrol Australia's maritime approaches from the North, in the South West Pacific and down to Antarctica," says defence minister Linda Reynolds.

"The fleet is being developed and purchased through a Cooperative Program with the US Navy. This programme strengthens our ability to develop advanced maritime surveillance capability and ensure our capabilities remain complementary with our security partners, while sharing in the benefits of their technical expertise and project costs."

In June 2018, Canberra announced that it would obtain six MQ-4Cs.

A potential wrinkle in its plan occurred in early 2020, when the Trump administration proposed a production pause for the programme in FY2021 and FY2022.

Given that this will affect Canberra's acquisition, Northrop Grumman proposed that Australia advance its acquisition of the MQ-4C.

The proposal would see all six of Australia's Tritons come from low-rate, initial-product lot five (LRIP 5). Previously, only one Australian Triton was earmarked for LRIP five, with the following aircraft coming from subsequent lots.

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/australia-commits-to-third-mq-4c-triton/138894.article

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Northrop Grumman Unveils U.S. Navy's First MQ-4C Triton

By Guy Norris

Source: Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

June 15, 2012

LOS ANGELES — The newly named MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned aircraft for the U.S. Navy was officially unveiled at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif., facility on June 14.

The Navy, meanwhile, says it has yet to confirm the causes of the accident that led to the loss of one of five BAMS demonstrator Block 10 aircraft near Patuxent River, Md., on June 11 (AWIN First, June 11).

The Global Hawk derivative rolled out in Palmdale is the first of two test and development MQ-4Cs and paves the way for a planned fleet of 68 for the Navy. "This capability has never been needed more as we rebalance toward the Pacific," says Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson.

Describing the unmanned system as a force multiplier, Ferguson says, "BAMS will provide an asymmetric advantage to the U.S. Navy. Long-range persistent surveillance transforms the nature of warfare at sea."

The Triton will be employed as part of a new joint force with 117 Boeing P-8As to replace the aging fleet of 230 Lockheed Martin P-3 patrol and surveillance aircraft.

First flight of the UAV is scheduled for the end of 2012. Following a series of up to nine test flights in the restricted airspace of Edwards AFB, Calif., the aircraft will transit to Naval Air Station Patuxent River to complete development work. Initial operational capability is planned for December 2015.

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http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_06_15_2012_p02-01-468246.xml