CHIPS Articles: The Navy’s Cutting Edge: MQ-4C Triton Takes Flight - July 31, 2013

Hot on the heels of X47-B’s unprecedented launch from the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the Navy’s newest unmanned aircraft system took to the skies on May 22 from Palmdale, Calif., successfully completing its premiere flight.

Formerly called Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAS, the MQ-4C Triton is the latest in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft platforms. The Northrop Grumman-built aircraft spent more than four years in development.

Modeled after the Air Force's RQ-4B Global Hawk, the Triton boasts a 130.9 foot wingspan and stands 15.3 feet tall. It can travel at a speed of up to 310 knots, or 357 miles per hour.

The maiden voyage of the aircraft took place in a restricted airspace, controlled by ground-based Navy and Northrop Grumman personnel. The test flight saw the UAS climb to 20,000 feet altitude; however, the Triton has the ability to reach to an impressive altitude of 60,000 feet.

Although the Triton’s first flight was limited to 80 minutes, the aircraft can stay airborne for up to 30 hours.

According to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the Triton will participate in 24-hour missions above altitudes of 50,000 feet, where its job may entail transits of 2,000 nautical miles to operating station from forward bases to keep watch over ocean and littoral areas at the same time. Thanks largely in part to its primary sensor – the brand new AN/ZPY-3 multi-function active-sensor (MFAS) radar system – the Triton is able to cover up to 2.7 million square miles per mission.

The aircraft also benefits from the presence other 360-degree Field Of Regard sensors, including Electro-Optical/Infrared sensor, Automatic Identification System receiver and Electronic Support Measures.

NAVAIR has indicated that the MQ-4C Triton will be stationed at five strategic locations around the world, where Triton operators will distribute real-time data to fleet units to support surface warfare, intelligence operations, strike warfare and search and rescue.

The UAS is expected to act as a continuous source of information to maintain the common operational and tactical picture of the maritime battle space as well as to provide combat information to operational and tactical users such as the Expeditionary Strike Group, Carrier Strike Group and the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander.

According to Capt. Jim Hoke, program manager for the Persistent Maritime UAS office (PMA-262) which oversees Triton’s development, the goal is to mature the Triton UAS before supporting the Navy's maritime ISR mission. “The data we collect the next few years is essential to certify the system for operational use,” he said.

The Triton will continue to be put to the test in California over the next several months before moving to Patuxent River this fall.

Update on X47-B

On May 14, at 11:18 a.m., the X47-B made history by completing the first ever carrier-based catapult launch from the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) of the coast of Virginia. Catapults, which are found on all carriers, assist aircraft in launching from the flight deck.

The unmanned aircraft also safely executed several planned low approaches to the carrier followed by a 65-minute flight to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., where it landed.

"The flight today demonstrated that the X-47B is capable of operation from a carrier, hand-off from one mission control station to another, flight through the national airspace, and recovery at another location without degradation in safety or precision," said Matt Funk, lead test engineer for the Navy UCAS program.

Yet another history-making moment followed later that week on May 17, again aboard the George H.W. Bush, when the aircraft successfully completed a touch and go landing – that’s landing on the runway and taking off again without coming to a full stop.

"We are proud to be a part of another historic first for Naval Aviation. The landing was spot-on and it's impressive to witness the evolution of the Carrier Air Wing," said George H.W. Bush’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Brian E. Luther.

After participating in shore-based testing at NAS Patuxent River, X-47B successfully completed its historic carrier-based arrested landing demonstration on July 10.

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