Northrop Grumman has been awarded nearly $543 million to build and deliver five MQ-4C Triton strategic drones for the US and Australia

The US Navy has ordered five MQ-4C Triton strategic-level unmanned aerial vehicles. One UAV is destined for Australia.

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The US Department of Defence has announced that Northrop Grumman has been awarded nearly $543 million to produce and deliver Triton drones: four for the US Navy and one for Australia. Work will take place at plants in California, San Diego, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Mississippi and Quebec.

Northrop Grumman has already handed over five MQ-4C Triton drones to the US Navy, which has been used to form the new squadron. The achievement of initial operational readiness was announced this autumn. In total, the military service wants to receive about 30 drones instead of the originally planned 70 units.

The MQ-4C Triton is designed for maritime patrol, radio reconnaissance, search and rescue and communications relay. The drone can fly at an altitude of more than 15,000 metres. A full tank is enough to stay in the air for over 24 hours.

Source: Pentagon