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08 April 2024
by Jeremiah Cushman
An MQ-4C maritime unmanned aerial vehicle in flight. (Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the latest multi-intelligence (multi-INT) Integrated Functional Capability–4 (IFC-4) in August 2023. The first orbit of four air vehicles is operating with 7th Fleet out of Guam.
Since reaching IOC, the MQ-4C is meeting the fleet’s mission capability rate requirement and has become an integral ISR capability for US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) as well as bringing a high level of maritime domain awareness, Rho Cauley-Bruner, the Triton programme director for Northrop Grumman told
Janes
on 4 April, ahead of the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2024 global maritime exposition held from 8 to 10 April in National Harbor, Maryland.
The US Navy (USN) has begun building its next orbit for 6th Fleet at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, where the first MQ-4C arrived on 30 March, according to a navy statement on 1 April. This marks the start of work to stand up the orbit, with operations expected to begin soon, Cauley-Bruner said.
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