Droner - Australia får effektiv overvåking av havområder - Triton bygges - Australian Aviation

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN STARTS MQ-4C TRITON BUILD

written by Staff Reporter October 28, 2020

Northrop Grumman has announced it’s started building Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton drone, writes Stephen Kuper.

The device is a collaboration between the RAAF and the US Navy, and provides around-the-clock maritime wide-area ISR, operating at altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet. It’s designed to operate in conjunction with Australia’s planned fleet of 12 manned P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft.

Australia is currently scheduled to receive its first ground control station in 2022 and its first of six to seven Tritons in 2023.

Remotely flying out of RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia, the Tritons are capable of monitoring 5.2 million square kilometres in a 24-hour mission and seamlessly flying a round trip for sustained surveillance and in support of allied freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea from the Northern Territory.

Air Commodore Terry van Haren, the RAAF’s air attaché to the Australian embassy, said the MQ-4C Triton would provide a “very important ISR capability” for Australia.