Jump to content

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 99.119.130.95 (talk) at 06:19, 27 August 2012. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

MQ-4C Triton
Illustration of the BAMS unmanned aerial system
Role Surveillance UAV
National origin United States
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
Primary user United States Navy
Variants Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development for the United States Navy as a surveillance aircraft. Developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program, the system is intended to provide continuous maritime surveillance for the US Navy, and to complement the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, the Boeing 737-based Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA).[1]

The system is expected to enter service around 2015.[2] Around 40 UAVs will be based at six sites - Hawaii; Diego Garcia; NAS Jacksonville, Florida; Kadena Air Base, Japan; NAS Point Mugu, California and NAS Sigonella, Italy.[3]

Development

Contract competition

The competitors for the contract included:[4]

On 22 April 2008, Northrop Grumman received the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance contract worth $1.16 billion.[7] Lockheed Martin filed a formal protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) two weeks later.[8] On August 11, 2008 the GAO ruled to uphold the Navy’s selection of Northrop Grumman.[9] In September 2010, the BAMS aircraft was designated the MQ-4C.[10]

Initial development

Official unveiling took place on June 14, 2012 at Palmdale, California. During the event, it was announced that the Navy had approved the name "Triton" for the aircraft. First flight is expected by the end of 2012, followed by test flights at Edwards AFB and NAS Patuxent River. Initial Operational Capability is planned for December 2015.[11]

The US Navy plans a fleet of 68 MQ-4Cs and 117 Boeing P-8As to replace the aging P-3 Orion force.[12]

Operators

 United States

Specificiations

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Unmanned, 4 per ground station

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ "P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA)". U.S. Navy Fact File. United States Navy. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b BAMS UAS. Naval Air Systems Command. Retrieved: 2 August 2010
  3. ^ "Maritime surveillance unit may be based at Naval Base Ventura County" (VC Star, May 10, 2012)
  4. ^ Defence Systems – Daily, October 1, 2007.
  5. ^ Boeing / Gulfstream 550 BAMS
  6. ^ "Boeing envisions 'maritime ISR triad'". C4ISR Journal, Defense News. Gannett Government Media Corporation. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  7. ^ Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) (22). "Navy Awards Northrop Grumman Unmanned Aircraft System Contract" (News Release). U.S. Department of Defense. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 29 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Stephen Trimble (5). "Lockheed protests USN BAMS award". Flightglobal. Reed Elsevier v 1.0.0.0. Retrieved 29 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. ^ NAV Air News Release - BAMS UAS program resumes
  10. ^ "BAMS given MQ-4C designation". Naval Air Systems Command. U.S. Department of Defense System. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  11. ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology June 18, 2012
  12. ^ Aviation Week and Space Technology June 18, 2012


Stub icon

This aviation-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This United States Navy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northrop_Grumman_MQ-4C_Triton&oldid=509378733"