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US Navy Expands its Maritime Surveillance with Two Additional MQ-4C Triton Drones.
The United States Department of Defense has ordered two MQ-4C Triton drones from Northrop Grumman as part of its maritime surveillance program. This contract, valued at $267.2 million, includes the delivery of the drones by October 2028 and a spare parts package worth $1.4 million for Australia. This acquisition falls within the seventh production series of the Triton program, aimed at enhancing the U.S. Navy's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk platform, the MQ-4C Triton is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbojet engine, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 575 km/h and an operational ceiling of 17 km (Picture source: US DoD)
The MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned system designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It is intended to operate alongside manned maritime patrol aircraft such as the Boeing P-8A Poseidon, ensuring continuous and precise monitoring of maritime operational areas. The U.S. Navy plans to acquire 68 of these drones to maintain five continuous surveillance orbits worldwide, operating from domestic and overseas bases.
Since the first development contract with Northrop Grumman in 2008, the Triton program has undergone several significant phases. The prototype completed its maiden flight in May 2013, followed by a testing phase at Edwards Air Force Base in California and Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. After delays due to technical challenges, the initial operational capability (IOC) was declared in August 2023. Since then, the MQ-4C Triton has been deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, playing a crucial role in strategic maritime surveillance.
Based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk platform, the MQ-4C Triton is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbojet engine, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 575 km/h and an operational ceiling of 17 km. With an endurance of more than 30 hours, it is designed to cover extensive maritime areas. Its AN/ZPY-3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar provides 360-degree coverage, scanning up to 5,200 km² per cycle, enabling a single drone to monitor up to 7 million km² daily.
The Triton program extends beyond the United States, as Australia is the platform's first international customer. In November 2023, Northrop Grumman successfully conducted the first flight of the Australian MQ-4C at its Palmdale Aerospace Integration Center in California, marking a key milestone ahead of its scheduled 2024 delivery. The integration of these drones into the Royal Australian Air Force aligns with a strategic partnership between the United States and Australia to enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
In 2022, Northrop Grumman delivered the first upgraded MQ-4C Triton to the U.S. Navy. This aircraft features a 360-degree AESA maritime radar and a wide-field electro-optical/infrared sensor. These enhancements improve surveillance capabilities, threat identification, and integration with other airborne and naval surveillance platforms. Additionally, in September 2024, the MQ-4C Triton demonstrated its ability to operate in Arctic conditions, confirming its adaptability to extreme environments.
This new order represents another step in the expansion of the Triton program, which remains integral to the U.S. Navy’s maritime surveillance network. By combining high altitude, extended endurance, and advanced reconnaissance capabilities, the MQ-4C Triton plays a critical role in maintaining continuous strategic presence across global operational theaters.