Royal Australian Air Force officially unveils first MQ-4C Triton

Representatives of the Australian government, the Royal Australian Air Force and Northrop Grumman officially unveiled the RAAF’s first MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft during a ceremony at RAAF Base Tindal on 31 July 2024.

FILE PHOTO: RAAF’s first MQ-4C Triton. Northrop Grumman photo.

The aircraft actually arrived at RAAF Base Tindal on 16 June following a three-segment flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, USA.

Northrop Grumman personnel worked closely with their RAAF counterparts to prepare for the aircraft’s arrival and support-base activities.

Minister for Defence Richard Marles said Australia must continue to enhance its operations from Australia’s northern bases and the MQ-4C Triton was a tangible example of a capability that would assist in achieving that task.

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said MQ-4C Triton would significantly enhance the security of Australia’s maritime borders.

“The arrival of the Triton represents a significant milestone for the Royal Australian Air Force and clearly demonstrates the success of the cooperative program with the United States Navy,” Mr Conroy said.

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell said that as a complement to the RAAF’s existing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the MQ-4C Triton would significantly enhance its ability to persistently patrol Australia’s north and broader maritime approaches.

“MQ-4C Triton will deliver unprecedented persistence and awareness over the maritime domain in support of the integrated, focused force,” Air Marshal Chappell said.

“Uncrewed aerial systems offer enormous potential to capitalise on the opportunities provided by modern payloads and increased endurance.”

Christine Zeitz, chief executive and general manager, Australia & New Zealand, Northrop Grumman said that as one of the most advanced intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting systems in the world, and a product of a cooperative development program between Australia and the United States, Triton was a proven multi-mission, multi-domain national security asset vital to the Australian Defence Force.

Captain Josh Guerre, US Navy Triton program manager said the delivery of Australia’s first MQ-4C represented a significant step in a collaboration between the US and Australia to drive the future of multi-domain intelligence collection.

“The US Navy is thrilled to collaborate with Australia to deliver this game-changing intelligence capability into the 7^th Fleet area of responsibility,” Captain Guerre said.

Australia’s Triton program remains on track with three additional aircraft currently in production at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California, facility.

Built for the US Navy and the RAAF, the multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton can support a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, signals intelligence and search and rescue.

Key attributes of the Triton include:

• higher operating altitude and longer endurance than medium-altitude systems;
• ultra-long operational range of 7400 nautical miles (13,700km); and,
• simultaneous multi-intelligence sensor operations delivering an exponential increase in mission information.

The remaining three Australian Tritons currently under contract are progressing as planned through their production schedules.

Once fully fielded, Triton will be operated by Number 9 Squadron from two locations to perform surveillance over the Indo-Pacific region – RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.

Northrop Grumman is establishing a dynamic support environment for the progressive delivery of the Triton systems into Australia, including establishing ground stations at RAAF Base Edinburgh and facilitating aircraft integration into RAAF Base Tindal.

The company is building a highly qualified Australian workforce across both locations, leveraging extensive knowledge and experience gained from supporting US Navy Triton operations.

 

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