The Royal Australian Air Force has accepted its initial MQ-4C Triton drone as part of a 2018 contract with Northrop Grumman.
The aircraft was delivered via a three-segment flight from US Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, to the Northern Territory.
The unmanned system will be based in Tindal alongside three additional MQ-4Cs being developed for the program.
Canberra wrote that the systems will be designated to the No. 9 Squadron, which was reactivated in March specifically for Triton operations.
Once inducted, the fleet will be used for high-altitude and long-endurance maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions alongside the Royal Australian Air Force’s current P-8A Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
“The delivery of Australia’s first MQ-4C represents a significant step in a collaboration between the US and Australia to drive the future of multi domain intelligence collection,” US Navy Triton Program Manager Capt. Josh Guerre stated.
“The US Navy is thrilled to collaborate with Australia to deliver this game changing intelligence capability into the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.”
‘Unprecedented’ Asset
The first Australian MQ-4C’s arrival follows a November 2023 contract signed by Northrop Grumman to provide maintenance services for the nation’s future Triton fleet.
Simultaneously, the drone completed its maiden flight in California of more than four hours at an altitude of 54,100 feet (16,490 meters) and a speed of 336 knots (622 kilometers/387 miles per hour).
A month earlier, Canberra invested approximately $965 million to procure three more MQ-4Cs from the US.
“As a complement to our existing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the MQ-4C Triton will significantly enhance our ability to persistently patrol Australia’s north and broader maritime approaches,” Royal Australian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Stephen Chappell commented on the recent Triton delivery.
“The MQ-4C Triton will deliver unprecedented persistence and awareness over the maritime domain in support of the integrated, focused force.”
