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The US Navy has declared the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft has achieved a declaration of initial operating capability (IOC), as the critical project reaches a major milestone.
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Australia’s own fleet of MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft are closer to reality following the US Navy’s confirmation that the high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft performing persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting had successfully achieved initial operating capability.
Since achieving early operational capability in May 2020, the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet employed Triton in the US Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility conducting maritime and reconnaissance missions. Northrop Grumman has delivered five multi-intelligence Triton aircraft to the US Navy, with the latest delivered June 2023.
Rho Cauley Bruner, director, Triton program, Northrop Grumman, said, “Triton has proven to be invaluable for the maritime patrol and reconnaissance mission in the Indo-Pacific. Now that the system has achieved initial operating capability, commanders will be able to fully leverage Triton’s powerful sensor suite to detect and deter potential adversaries around the world.”
The multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton supports a wide range of missions including maritime patrol, signals intelligence, search and rescue, and communications relay.
US Navy Captain Josh Guerre, Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems program manager, said, “Persistent global maritime awareness is central to deterring or competing and winning against our adversaries. Triton ensures we’re making informed decisions and effectively operating anywhere in the world.”
These aircraft provide commanders with persistent surveillance for the prediction of an adversary’s behaviour and enables better planning, greatly enhancing joint military responses and operations.
The Triton has an operating altitude greater than 50,000 feet and 24-hour endurance, allowing the aircraft to survey 4 million nautical miles in one 24-hour mission.
Triton provides continuous communications relay to keep a distributed Navy connected while ensuring commanders are operating off a common operational picture. Its unparalleled, long-range sensors allow it to detect, classify, and track maritime targets well outside the detection of enemy ships and surface-to-air missiles.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defence technology company.
