The MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicles in service with the US Navy have reached initial combat readiness. This was announced by the Northrop Grumman company.
Here’s what we know
The MQ-4C is a reconnaissance drone with a long endurance and flight altitude. It was developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program to meet the demand for real-time intelligence collection. The basic model is the RQ-4 Global Hawk strategic UAV.
The Triton has several differences compared to the Global Hawk. In particular, the new version of the drone has a reinforced airframe structure, lightning protection and has received a de-icing system.
Northrop Grumman has delivered five MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drones to the US Navy. The last drone was delivered in June this year. Operational readiness was achieved in 2020. Since then, the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet has operated UAVs in the US Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.
The MQ-4C Triton performs a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, radio reconnaissance, search and rescue and communications relay. The drone can climb to altitudes above 15,000 meters and fly for 24 hours. According to the manufacturer, the UAV is capable of surveying 4 million nautical miles (over 7 million kilometers) during a single 24-hour mission.
Source: Northrop Grumman
2023-09-18 18:17:27
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