Northrop Grumman awarded contract to support MQ-4C Triton.

According to a press release published by U.S. Department of Defense on March 16, 2021, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded an $81,992,887 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract provides for sustainment, engineering, logistics, test, mission control, and operator training systems support for MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
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MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system UAS (Picture source: US Department of Defense)

This effort 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. In addition, this effort supports reach-back engineering support for both the Navy and the government of Australia MQ-4C Triton UAS assets.

Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland (36.5%); San Diego, California (22.5%); various locations outside the continental U.S. (12.7%); various locations within the continental U.S. (8.8%); Jacksonville, Florida (7.7%); Mayport, Florida (6.5%); and Baltimore, Maryland (5.3%), and is expected to be completed in March 2022.

Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $52,700,590, fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,376,000; and foreign cooperative project funds in the amount of $40,880 will be obligated at the time of award, $8,376,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001921C0060).

The MQ-4C Triton is an American high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the United States Navy as a surveillance aircraft.

The MQ-4C Triton air vehicle is based upon the United States Air Force (USAF) RQ-4B Global Hawk, while its sensors are based upon components of already fielded in the U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) inventory. Along with the P-8A manned aircraft, the MQ-4C Triton is integral to the Navy's Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) Family of Systems (FoS).

The fuselage of the MQ-4C Triton is an aluminum semi-monocoque construction while the V-tail, engine nacelle, and aft fuselage are made of composite materials. It has a length of 14.5 m, a height of 4.7 m, and a wingspan of 39.9 m. It has an internal payload of 1,452 kg maximum and an external payload of 1,089 kg.

The MQ-4C Triton can fly at a maximum altitude of 18,300m (60,000ft). It has a gross take-off weight of 14,628 kg. Its maximum unrefueled range is 18,427 km (9,950 nm) and has a flight endurance of 30 hours. It can reach a maximum speed of 575 km (357 mph).