Meet the Navy’s New MQ-4C Triton Spy Drone
- Posted on June 18, 2012 at 10:03pm by
Liz Klimas
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MQ-4C Triton (Photo: U.S. Navy)
Last week, the Northrup Grumman unveiled its latest addition to the Navy’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force.
The MQ-4C Triton has been four years in the making and features a AN/ZPY-3 multi-function active-sensor (MFAS) radar system. According to the Navy’s press release, the MFAS will allow it to cover 2.7 million miles in one mission. This unmanned aerial vehicle with a 130.9-foot wingspan is expected to free up other aircraft to focus on other missions, according to the release.
Here is Triton’s mission according to the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Systems program:
As an adjunct to the P-8A, the BAMS UAS will provide combat information to operational and tactical users such as the Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC). BAMS UAS will provide intelligence preparation of the environment by providing a more continuous source of information to maintain the Common Operational and Tactical Picture (COTP) of the maritime battle space. Additionally, BAMS UAS-collected data posted to the Global Information Grid (GIG) will support a variety of intelligence activities and nodes. In a secondary role, the BAMS UAS will also be used alone or in conjunction with other assets to respond to theater-level operational or national strategic tasking.
Unveiling ceremony in Palmdale, Calif. (Photo: U.S. Navy)
Next steps for Triton include compliance testing and its first flight. The aircraft is expected to be fully operational in 2015.
“It’s a phenomenal event to see the fruits of our labor come to fruition after four years of hard work and dedication to this program,” Capt. James Hoke, program manager for the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-262), said in a statement. “We are looking forward to continuing testing and evaluation, parts assembly and installation and radar risk-reduction tests.”
(H/T: Gizmodo)
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Baja
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:18pmLooks like they used Joe Biden’s forehead to mold the front of that thing.
Report Post »karzee
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:37pmI’m with Marine 1…git out yer guns, folks!
Report Post »okredstate
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:26pmIt’s a Northrop Global Hawk with some new toys inside. Next………
Report Post »jammin johnny
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:12pmOld technology to keep the masses entertained…….
Report Post »jnobfan
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:43pmYeah its pretty funny that they show us this stuff as the latest and greatest. At the Spy museum exhibit now showing in NYC there is a Firefly drone from the early sixties. Looks exactly like a firefly and is fully functional with fibre-optical camera – this from the sixties!!!
Report Post »I would guess the latest and greatest today are barely visable and quite lethal.
Archtard
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:51amIf we see it, it is old tech and usually has been in use already.
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:16am1 to 2 decade lag at least…some items never come out
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:35amAin’t necessarilly so. The comies in the WH are [outing] all new tech as fast as they can type!
Report Post »It’s all for the common good of their re-election, ONLY! {FK}- the-free-world!!
Quasimofo
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 8:36amComing soon to a neighborhood sky near you.
Report Post »clemV
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:53amExactly. Hooray for the new military industrial complex! Yay, our govt. has toys to manage U.S. better. We‘ve already lost our freedoms and if you’re not talking about the Obama Bio Kenya fiasco – YOU ARE WRONG.
Report Post »eyesopened
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 7:45amhope it has the self destruct option….just say’n
Report Post »Marine 1
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:59am…with a nuke tucked away in its belly. That way when Iran “captures” it and they start to open it…Surprise…Boom!
They should have named it the MC-4Q Achmed The Dead Terrorist and paid Jeff royalties for the rest of his life.
Oh, one more thing, Navy, don’t use this drone on us as well simply attempt to shoot it down with our 30-06′s if we can.
If you’re looking to spy on the real terrorists just have this thing fly a circle around the White House and follow Air Force One all over the place. You will catch a glimpse of the Terrorist-in-Charge — he‘s the half black guy acting like he’s a king. Can’t miss him!
Oh, don’t fly this thing over our homes and leave U.S. alone as we are the only Patriots left to take a stand for the Constitution and what’s left of our country. We go and this country goes!
Semper Fidelis
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:18amtoo many words…use on us, hang with the rest.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:39amno…that costs $$ and is part of the continuing reductionin millitary-funding. They also remove all {landing} software so it and manyother secret items will all crash in enemy tarritories, for them to 100%-copy.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:25amMy goodness…. Government.. ….What big eyes you have..!
Report Post »Mike777
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:56amya lol ………….. scary
Report Post »waciii
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:01am2.7 million square miles. Not 2.7 million miles.
Report Post »AZgirl9000
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 10:05amI guess Liz couldn’t spare a square.
Report Post »SBR308
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 4:44amCome on this can’t be real where are the windows
Report Post »Godrulz
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 4:11amTesting, testing…1,2,3.
Report Post »Godrulz
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 4:11amIs this thing on?
Report Post »Godrulz
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 4:10amWell I feel much safer now just knowing that these, and other “assets,” will be keeping a close eye on all us dangerous patriots.
Report Post »Hawaii_Conservative
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:30amNow land one in Israel…oh yeah no need; Iran needs the advantage; Seriously, Obama wired the blueprints to the Chinese and Russian, already. 4 years of hard work down the tubes in 4 seconds. Thanks for sharing though.
Report Post »Baja
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:22pmA conservative living in Hawaii?
Report Post »NeoMouser
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:29amwhy the in hell are we getting pictures from these people on our new military toys?
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:23ambecause they are not new…how long has remote control hobby planes, choppers etc been out…?
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