Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton

[Ayoshi]

From: northropgrumman.com

MQ-4C Triton Program Overview:
Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) provides real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) over vast ocean and coastal regions.

Based on the proven Global Hawk UAS, Triton’s autonomous operations are supported by land-based command and control mission planners and sensor operators. Triton will be equipped with a unique and robust mission sensor suite that provides 360-degree coverage on all sensors, providing unprecedented maritime domain awareness for the U.S. Navy.

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DoD awards first LRIP contract for Triton UAV |IHS Jane's 360 - 28 September 2016

The US Navy (USN) has awarded Northrop Grumman a

[Ayoshi]

Germany to Procure Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Triton UAS to Replace Cancelled Euro Hawk | navy recognition - 07 March 2017

According to Reuters citing ministry sources, Germany's defence ministry has decided to buy Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton unmanned air systems (UAS) to replace the RQ-4A-based Euro Hawk, which Berlin cancelled in May 2013. Sensors for the new aircraft are to be built by Airbus, as planned under the previous programme, the sources said. The number of planes to be procured has not been disclosed yet but Germany had planned to buy five Euro Hawk aircraft.

The U.S. Navy's MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (U.S. Navy photo)

[Ayoshi]

Pentagon: MQ-4C Triton programme costs increase 17% | IHS Jane's 360 - 23 July 2017

The Defense Department (DoD) cited a revised estimate to include work scope for modernisation for Triton programmes costs increasing from USD14.4 billion to USD16.8 billion.

Programme costs for the MQ-4C Triton UAV are up 17% from December 2015, according to the Pentagon (Northrop Grumman)

[Ayoshi]

Germany to acquire MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems from U.S. | Army Recognition - 08 April 2018

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Germany of MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for an estimated cost of $2.50 billion.

The Government of Germany has requested to buy four (4) MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), one (1) Mission Control Station (MCS) comprised of one (1) Main Operating Base (MOB) (MD-3A) and one (1) Forward Operating Base (FOB) (MD-3B), ten (10) Kearfott Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS), units (2 per aircraft plus 2 spares), and ten (10) LN-251 INS/GPS units (2 per aircraft plus 2 spares).

This proposed MQ-4C UAS sale will be a modified version of the USN Triton configuration. Also included is one Rolls Royce Engine (spare), communication equipment, support equipment, mission planning element to include Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) Global Positioning System (GPS) items, Communications Security (COMSEC) equipment, mapping, training, support equipment, consumables, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, ground support equipment, flight test support, airworthiness support, personnel training and training devices, applicable software, hardware, publications and technical data, facilities and maintenance support, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics supports services, and other elements of unique engineering efforts required to support the integration, installation and functional platform compatibility testing of Germany’s indigenous payload and other related elements of logistics and program support, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total case value is $2.50 billion.

[Ayoshi]

US Navy officially inducts Triton UAV into service | Janes - 04 June 2018

The US Navy (USN) has officially commenced operations of its Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime System (BAMS) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), it was announced on 1 June.

A ceremony to formally induct the high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAV into service with Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP)-19 – the navy’s first unmanned patrol squadron – was held the previous day at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu, California.

VP-19 now has two Triton UAVs, which are housed in specially constructed to facilities designed to accommodate their nearly 40 m wingspans. With this milestone, VP-19 will undertake training and trials ahead of the platform’s inaugural overseas deployment, which will be to the Pacific island of Guam later this year. For this and later deployments, the Triton will operate in concert with the manned Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission aircraft.

[Ayoshi]

Australia Signs MoU for MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System | Navy Recognition - 28 June 2018

The Australian government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Navy June 25, to purchase up to six MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Air Systems (UAS).

The MOU outlines the cooperative agreement between the two countries which will allow Australia to influence future design and development of the program.

The Royal Australian Air Force plans to operate Triton alongside the P-8A Poseidon to support its maritime patrol and other surveillance roles. Photo taken from navyrecognition.com

[Ayoshi]

MQ-4C Triton UAV readied by Northrop for Signal Intelligence | Air Recognition - 23 July 2018

Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., announced a $19.3 million order Wednesday to the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems segment in San Diego to buy unique materials necessary to integrate the Triton integrated functional capability (IFC) 4.0.

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Compared with the Global Hawk, the Triton has a reinforced airframe and wing, de-icing systems, and lightning protection to enable it to descend through cloud layers to gain a closer view of ships and other targets at sea. It can track ships over time by gathering information on their speed, location, and type.

The Triton IFC 4.0 project seeks to upgrade the Triton UAV with multi-intelligence capabilities that include SIGINT, such that Triton IFC 4.0 UAVs could replace the Navy's fleet of EP-3 aircraft. The EP-3 aircraft are based on the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion four-engine turboprop airframe, and are scheduled to be retired in 2021. Much of the EP-3's mission and electronic equipment is secret and is conducted in high-threat areas where long-range standoff is necessary.