Northrop Grumman Australia has signed a contract with L3Harris Corporation (L3HCA) for the operation and maintenance of command-and-control systems aboard Australia’s MQ-4C Triton multi-intelligence uncrewed aircraft fleet.
The collaboration is another milestone in advance of delivery of the platform to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Australia’s first multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton takes to the skies for the first time on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in Palmdale, Calif.
- As prime systems integrator on Triton, Northrop Grumman has collaborated with several suppliers to integrate and maintain key systems and technologies on the platform to provide the capabilities required by the RAAF.
- The Interim Sustainment Support Contract covers maintenance of the Triton’s Wideband Command, Control and Communications (C3) Subsystem, which was developed by L3HCA.
- Starting this month, L3HCA will provide seven communications technicians and field service representatives to work with the Northrop Grumman team.
Details on Triton:
Built for the U.S. Navy and RAAF, the multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton supports a wide range of missions including maritime patrol, signals intelligence, search and rescue and communications relay.
These aircraft provide commanders with persistent surveillance for the prediction of an adversary’s behavior, enabling better planning and enhancing joint military responses.
Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first flight of Australia’s MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft at its Palmdale facility in California in November 2023.
The flight marks a major production milestone as Northrop Grumman progresses toward delivery of Australia’s first Triton in 2024.
All four Australian Tritons currently under contract are progressing as planned through their production schedules.
Northrop Grumman is establishing a dynamic support environment for the progressive delivery of the Triton systems into Australia.
This includes establishing ground stations at RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia and facilitating air vehicles into RAAF Tindal, Northern Territory.
The company is building a highly qualified Australian workforce across both locations, leveraging extensive knowledge and experience gained supporting U.S. Navy Triton operations.
Australia is part of the Triton cooperative program and is helping shape the requirements of the system.
Together, U.S. and Australian defense forces will share data collected by their respective Tritons.
About Northrop Grumman Corporation
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company.
With 95,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $30 billion, it is one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers and military technology providers.
