Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton
| 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][3] 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.[4]
Development
Contract competition
The competitors for the contract included:[5]
- Boeing, with an unmanned version of the Gulfstream G550 business jet. It was optionally manned and has "commonality with other Boeing-built naval aircraft."[6][7]
- Northrop Grumman, with a marinized RQ-4 Global Hawk. In order to begin testing the surveillance package early, Northrop Grumman contracted with Flight Test Associates of the Mojave Spaceport to modify a Grumman Gulfstream II as a flying testbed.
- Lockheed Martin, with a General Atomics Mariner
On 22 April 2008, Northrop Grumman received the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance contract worth $1.16 billion.[8] Lockheed Martin filed a formal protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) two weeks later.[9] On August 11, 2008 the GAO ruled to uphold the Navy’s selection of Northrop Grumman.[10] In September 2010, the BAMS aircraft was designated the MQ-4C.[11]
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.[12]
The US Navy plans a fleet of 68 MQ-4Cs and 117 Boeing P-8As to replace the aging P-3 Orion force.[13]
Operators
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
- ^ "P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA)". U.S. Navy Fact File. United States Navy. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/planes-uavs/meet-triton-the-navys-new-spy-drone-9718704
- ^ "Maritime surveillance unit may be based at Naval Base Ventura County" (VC Star, May 10, 2012)
- ^ Defence Systems – Daily, October 1, 2007.
- ^ Boeing / Gulfstream 550 BAMS
- ^ "Boeing envisions 'maritime ISR triad'". C4ISR Journal, Defense News. Gannett Government Media Corporation. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ 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) - ^ 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) - ^ NAV Air News Release - BAMS UAS program resumes
- ^ "BAMS given MQ-4C designation". Naval Air Systems Command. U.S. Department of Defense System. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology June 18, 2012
- ^ Aviation Week and Space Technology June 18, 2012
External links
- Northrop Grumman BAMS contender web site
- Boeing / Gulfstream BAMS contender presentation This link is not working 29 Oct 10
- Lockheed Martin BAMS product web site
- Flight Test Associates web site
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