NAVAIR orders Triton production support
An MQ-4C Triton taxis at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (Photo: USAF/Senior Airman Michael Murphy)
Northrop Grumman will provide test, inspection and engineering support for MQ-4Cs in production for the US and Australia.
Northrop Grumman is providing non-destructive test and inspection support equipment — and ‘associated non-recurring engineering’ — for production of MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs for the USN and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the DoD announced on 22 September.
Work on the $15.83 million order from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is due for completion in September 2024.
The US has ordered 65 Tritons while Australia has ordered three, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
FY2022 budget documents show that the US DoD has requested a one-year production gap for Triton in FY2022 to support development of the Multi-INT configuration, with recommencement in FY2023.
The first aircraft for the RAAF is expected to arrive in 2023, however, the service will not be ready to receive it in Australia until 2024.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
MQ-4C Triton (Contracted) [Australia]
MQ-4 Triton (Announced/Contracted) [USA]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Poland orders Apache targeting systems and will establish local support facility]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Poland orders Apache targeting systems and will establish local support facility
In 2024, Poland agreed to purchase 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache combat helicopters in a deal worth as much as US$12 billion. The deal included 97 AN/ASQ-170 modernised target acquisition and designation sight/AN/AAR-11 modernised pilot night vision sensors (M-TADS/PNVS).
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: A400M production moved forward as development plans outlined]()
Paris Air Show 2025: A400M production moved forward as development plans outlined
It is more than a decade since the Airbus A400M tactical lift aircraft entered service. More than 130 aircraft are in service around the world with nine countries, while another order has been made by Indonesia. The company is now looking to lower operational costs and increase the number of potential missions.
-
![Expanded focus – unleashing the potential of commercial SATCOM for defence]()
Expanded focus – unleashing the potential of commercial SATCOM for defence
In conversation... Intelsat's Ray Lindenmayer talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about the new capabilities advanced commercial SATCOM technologies can provide for military customers, and how industry and government can best work together to achieve maximum effect in orbit.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Boeing confirms “very early infancy” C-17 Globemaster III production restart discussions as European market opportunity looms]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Boeing confirms “very early infancy” C-17 Globemaster III production restart discussions as European market opportunity looms
The discussion of the C-17 comes off the back of Boeing’s focus on a growing European demand for defence equipment amid a growing threat on the continent.
