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RAAF’s unmanned plans face double jeopardy

28th February 2020 - 16:30 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Christchurch

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Beads of sweat may be appearing on the brows of top RAAF officials and bean-counters, given the news that the USN is suspending acquisition of the MQ-4C Triton for two years and that the USAF will be buying its final 24 MQ-9 Reapers in FY2021. These are two unmanned platforms on which the RAAF is pinning its hopes.

Australia is allocating billions of dollars to purchase six Tritons and associated infrastructure, and it has already approved the purchase of the first two UAVs.

The USN will not buy any MQ-4Cs under Lots 6 and 7 in FY2021-22, but it has

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Author

Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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