The United States Navy will strengthen its air control operations with the addition of two Triton MQ-4C drones, manufactured by Northrop Gumman. The investment, for an amount of $ 267.2 million, is a breakthrough in the recognition and maritime surveillance skills of the country.
You The autonomous teams, planned for delivery by 2028, will work in areas of strategic importance, integrating the seventh stage of production of the Triton program.
The project, which started its trip in 2008, signing the first agreement between the United States Department of Defense and the manufacturer, has evolved over the years. After the 2013 inaugural flight and the rigorous California and Maryland Air Base Tests, the MQ-4C Triton has achieved operational capacity in August 2023. Since then, it has been used in surveillance missions in the Indo-Polí region.
MQ-4C Triton’s performance and capabilities
Classified as a non-mannered air vehicle (Vant) of high altitude and autonomy (Hale), the MQ-4C Triton is based on the Hawk RQ-4 global platform. Powered by a turbojada Rolls-Royce AE 3007, Drone reaches a maximum speed of 575 km/flying at an altitude of up to 17 km.
With capacity to operate for more than 30 hours, the drone uses the active electronic scan radar An/ZPY-3, which offers a 360-degree coverage. This technology allows you to drag large sea areas, overseeing approximately 7 million km² a day and attending the search and rescue operations.
The latest version of MQ-4C Triton, delivered to the American Navy by 2022, includes improvements such as an electro-optical sensor/spacious field infrared. These additions extend monitoring, identification of the goal and integration with other planes and vessels.
The drone works together with the crew maritime patrol planes, such as Boeing P-8a Poseidon, guaranteeing a constant and precise follow-up of the critical areas. The previous year, MQ-4C Triton demonstrated its effectiveness in Arctic conditions, confirming its adaptability to various environments.
The American Navy plans to expand its fleet of surveillance drones, with the aim of acquiring 68 MQ-4C Triton units in the coming years. The intention is to use them in five major orbits of global surveillance, which operate from domestic and foreign bases, consolidating the presence and control of the air in various regions of the planet, according to information from the information Army Recognition Group.
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International expansion
In addition to the United States, Australia has also joined Northrop Grumman for the use of MQ-4C Triton. The Royal Air Force (RAAF) has already received the first Drone Unit, which is expected to receive three more, strengthening surveillance in the Indo-Pacific region.
The drones will work from the basis to Edinburgh and Tindal, expanding the maritime patrol and intelligence missions.
