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Northrop Grumman has advanced its development of the unmanned platforms for the RAAF, after integrating a critical capability.
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An aircraft fuselage has been mounted on the one-piece wing of Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) platform, marking a critical milestone in the production of the aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force.
The first Triton is on track for delivery in 2023, with the US Navy expecting to achieve initial operating capability with its fleet of multi-intelligence Tritons — built with the same configuration.
This is expected to bolster interoperability between Australia and the US, enabling the forces to share data and maintain an unblinking autonomous intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capability over maritime regions.
“This production milestone further demonstrates our commitment to both sides of the cooperative program between the Royal Australian Air Force and the US Navy,” Rho Cauley Bruner, Triton program manager, Northrop Grumman, said.
“We are on schedule to deliver Triton’s powerful capability in support of Australia’s national security.”
Group Captain Jason Lind, director, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare at Air Force Headquarters, welcomed the milestone and lauded the success of the collaboration between the RAAF, US Navy and Northrop Grumman.
“The Air Force is pleased with the continuing progress of our first Triton and the ongoing strong relationships we enjoy within the Cooperative Program with the US Navy and with the manufacturer of the Triton, Northrop Grumman Corporation,” he said.
“I am looking forward to seeing our first Triton roll off the production line and then commence flying in Australian skies in 2024.
“This capability will extend Australia’s ability to see and understand our maritime approaches to the north and also as far south as Antarctica.”
US Navy Captain Josh Guerre, persistent maritime unmanned aircraft systems program manager, added: “This important milestone highlights the successful partnership between our two great nations, and reflects the collaborative work between industry and government in delivering this strategic capability to our Australian Mates.”
This latest milestone comes just months after Northrop Grumman Australia delivered the Triton Network Integration Test Environment (NITE) to Defence ahead of schedule.
Based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, NITE will support the Chief Information Officer Group (CIOG) to configure and test the array of Triton network interfaces and systems prior to the delivery of the first aircraft to Australia in 2023.
It is anticipated the Tritons will deliver over 24-hour endurance, collecting essential ISR data over land and sea to enable rapid, informed decision-making.
The HALE systems have also been designed to support future connectivity with the joint force, leveraging advanced autonomy and artificial intelligence/machine learning.
[Related: Northrop Grumman Australia hits milestone for MQ-4C Triton program]
