|
ADF-SERIALS RAAF A57 Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photo by Northrop Grumman Corporation 14 September 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton Image Gallery |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton - Up to 7 Aircraft Project Air 7000 1B (Formerly JP2062 which proposed the RQ-4A Global Hawk in 2000) The Australian Government announced at RAAF Base Edinburgh on the 13th March 2014 that it had committed to the acquisition of the Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), subject to the successful completion of the US Navy development programme. The Triton system was planned as part of the Australian Defence Force's Project Air 7000 which was a two-phase replacement program for the capabilities previously fulfilled by the AP-3C Orion fleet. Phase 1B entails procuring the Triton, and Phase 2B was the acquisition of twelve manned P-8A Poseidons in 2017. RAAF Tritons and Poseidons will be used in a similar concept of operations as U.S. Navy operations, where the MQ-4C performs high-altitude broad area surveillance missions, allowing the P-8A Poseidons to fulfill anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, search and rescue response, and electronic intelligence missions. The total number of Triton aircraft to be acquired by Australia and their introduction into service date was further considered by Government in 2016, based on the Defence White Paper. On 26 June 2018, the Australian Government announced the purchase of the first of six MQ-4C Tritons with consideration being given to purchase a seventh. At this point, formal contract commitments have been made for the first three (as at February 2020). The acquisition of further aircraft is subject to future Government consideration and approval. Current plans call for the first of the Triton aircraft to be introduced into service in mid-2023, with all planned aircraft to be delivered and in operation by late 2025. They will be home based at RAAF Base Tindal, with operations headquartered at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Initial Operating Capability for the MQ-4C Triton is expected in 2025-26. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photos of A57-001 by Northrop Grumman Corporation 14 September 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Early artist mpressions incorrectly attributed the A47 serials range to the Triton. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The authors of this page are Brendan Cowan and Darren Crick. Sources: Defence Media Centre, RAAF News, www.defence.gov.au , https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/intel-cyber/5610-australia-to-contract-second-raaf-mq-4c-triton?utm_source=DefenceConnect&utm_campaign=21_02_20&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&utm_emailID=ec1c1cd2affe14b79ce121cb7279562df330ed9b2e4fc9c64f5e4cf4aec2b4cc, https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/australias-first-mq-4c-triton-has-been-unveiled, https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-unveils-first-australian-mq-4c-triton , https://australianaviation.com.au/2022/09/first-raaf-mq-4c-triton-drone-unveiled/ , https://www.defence.gov.au/project/triton-remotely-piloted-unmanned-aircraft-system , file:///C:/Users/brend/Downloads/Auditor-General_Report_2020-2021_19_PDSS_MQ-4C_Triton_Remotely_Piloted_Aircraft_System.pdf , https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/first-australian-mq-4c-triton-unveiled ,
Emails: Michael Louey, Updated 22nd June 2024 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
It is our policy to only show historical events, no current operational information will be displayed on this website.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
