Demonstration Triton UAV platform under construction
Northrop Grumman has announced that it is building a company-owned development and demonstration platform unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for use on the US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton programme. The UAV will be used to perform testing efforts for the navy in preparation for the Triton’s expected operational date of 2015.
Triton aims to provide a detailed picture of surface vessels to identify threats across vast areas of ocean and littoral areas. With its ability to fly missions up to 24 hours, Triton will complement many manned surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.
According to Northrop Grumman, wing sections were joined to the aircraft's fuselage at the company's production facility in Palmdale, California; and the aircraft will be outfitted with the same intelligence-gathering sensors and communications suite as the Navy's Triton programme.
Steve Enewold, Northrop Grumman's vice president and program manager for Triton, said: ‘Eventually, we will use the aircraft as a test bed to improve system performance, incorporate new intelligence-gathering capabilities and conduct demonstrations. We've proven that company-owned systems allow us to reduce risk in testing efforts and deliver capabilities faster to our customers.’
All production efforts related to this system were funded internally by the company.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet]()
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
![Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems]()
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
![Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences]()
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
![Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way]()
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
![AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems]()
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
