Northrop Grumman Delivers First Triton to Australia's Air Force
Uncrewed, long endurance aircraft will help Australia with maritime intelligence, surveillance and targeting capability.
The multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton operates at higher altitude and has longer endurance than medium-altitude systems to provide commanders with unmatched persistent maritime surveillance. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman recently delivered its first MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The arrival of the high-altitude, long-endurance Triton at a base in the Northern Territory enables Australia to deploy the most advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capability available today.
The first MQ-4C Triton arrived at RAAF Base Tindal on June 16th following a three-segment flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
Australia's Triton program remains on track with three additional aircraft currently in production at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, California, facility.
VIDEO: Northrop Grumman Delivers MQ-4C Triton to Australia (Video Credit: Northrop Grumman)
"The delivery of Australia's first MQ-4C represents a significant step in a collaboration between the U.S. and Australia to drive the future of multi domain intelligence collection," said Capt. Josh Guerre, U.S. Navy Triton Program Manager. "The U.S. Navy is thrilled to collaborate with Australia to deliver this game changing intelligence capability into the 7th Fleet area of responsibility."
Built for the U.S. Navy and the RAAF, the multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton supports a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, signals intelligence and search and rescue. These aircraft deliver unmatched persistent surveillance for the prediction of an adversary's behavior, enabling better planning and enhancing joint military responses. Key attributes include:
Triton's autonomous operations are supported by land-based command and control mission planners and sensor operators. It can fly at an altitude upwards of 50,000 feet, which is significantly higher than commercial aviation or medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) aircraft. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
- Higher operating altitude and longer endurance than medium-altitude systems
- Ultra-long operational range of 7,400 nautical miles (8,515 miles)
- Simultaneous multi-intelligence sensor operations delivering an exponential increase in mission information
Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first flight of Australia's MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft at its Palmdale facility in November 2023. The remaining three Australian Tritons currently under contract are progressing as planned through their production schedules. Once fully fielded, Triton will be operated by the Number 9 Squadron from two locations to perform surveillance over the Indo-Pacific region: RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.
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