Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to welcome the first MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft during a ceremony at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory.
The arrival of the high-altitude, long-endurance Triton enables Australia to deploy the most advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting (ISR&T) capability available today.
The first MQ-4C Triton arrived at RAAF Base Tindal on June 16 following a three-segment flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Northrop Grumman personnel worked closely with their RAAF counterparts to prepare for the aircraft’s arrival and support basing activities.
Australia’s Triton program remains on track with three additional aircraft currently in production at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California, facility. Royal Australian Air Force Welcomes First Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton The multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton operates at higher altitude and has longer endurance than medium-altitude systems to provide commanders with unmatched persistent maritime surveillance. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)
Built for the U.S. Navy and the RAAF, the multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton supports a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, signals intelligence and search and rescue. These aircraft deliver unmatched persistent surveillance for the prediction of an adversary’s behavior, enabling better planning and enhancing joint military responses. Key attributes include:
Higher operating altitude and longer endurance than medium-altitude systems Ultra-long operational range of 7,400 nautical miles (8,515 miles) Simultaneous multi-intelligence sensor operations delivering an exponential increase in mission information Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first flight of Australia’s MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft at its Palmdale facility in November 2023. The remaining three Australian Tritons currently under contract are progressing as planned through their production schedules. Once fully fielded, Triton will be operated by the 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 U.S. Navy Triton operations.
Christine Zeitz, chief executive and general manager, Australia & New Zealand, Northrop Grumman, said, “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 is a proven multi-mission, multi-domain national security asset vital to the Australian Defence Force during this critical time.”
Capt. Josh Guerre, U.S. Navy Triton program manager, said, “The delivery of Australia’s first MQ-4C represents a significant step in a collaboration between the U.S. and Australia to drive the future of multi domain intelligence collection. The U.S. Navy is thrilled to collaborate with Australia to deliver this game changing intelligence capability into the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.”