PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Nov. 19 (UPI) — The U.S. Navy has begun operational assessment trials of Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system.
The trials will be used to support the Navy’s MQ-4 Milestone C review and entry into low-rate initial production.
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command said the operational assessment will take place over two months. The Triton UAS will conduct six flights and execute various operational test scenarios.
The set scenarios will demonstrate Triton’s collection of data in support of fleet customers while exercising each of the system’s mission areas — intelligence, surface warfare, amphibious warfare and missions of state.
“We worked very hard to demonstrate system performance and stability leading up to the start of operational assessment,” said Sean Burke, Triton program manager. “We are eager to move into initial production as the next step to delivering Triton to the fleet.”
The Navy plans to eventually buy 68 surveillance MQ-4C Tritons, with three operational by 2017.
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