Northrop Grumman gains Triton support work
Northrop Grumman to support MQ-4Cs operated by Australia and US.
Northrop Grumman will provide sustainment, engineering, logistics, test and mission control services, as well as operator training, by March 2022 for MQ-4C Triton UAS supplied to the USN.
An $81.99 million contract ‘also includes procurement of field service representatives and technical support to ensure that the MQ-4C Triton UAS aircraft are mission-capable for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions supporting Triton’s early operational capability and initial operating capability’, the DoD announced on 15 March.
It added that the contract ‘supports reach-back engineering support for both the Navy and the government of Australia MQ-4C Triton UAS assets’.
Only two Tritons based in Guam are in service with the USN for broad area maritime surveillance, out of an overall requirement for 65 systems.
The DoD FY2021 budget request includes a two-year production pause on Triton until 2022 but Australia expects to receive the first of six Tritons in 2023, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
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