The Navy’s MQ-4C Triton has completed its first phase of flight testing that proves out its ability to fly at various speeds and altitudes, bringing the aircraft closer to beginning payload testing later this year, the service said.
Testing of the first Triton aircraft, which is a variant of the Air Force’s Global Hawk, began in May and was completed March 13, according to the Navy and manufacturer Northrop Grumman [NOC].
The MQ-4C flew a total of 81 hours, reached its maximum altitude of 59,960 feet and carried out 568 data test points, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said Friday. The testing took place at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Palmdale, Calif.
The Navy plans to buy 68 Tritons for broad area maritime surveillance and to operate in conjunction with the manned P-8A Poseidons built by Boeing [BA].
Two aircraft have been completed for flight testing under low-rate production. With the completion of envelope expansion, the first Triton is expected to arrive at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., in June or July, NAVAIR said. The second aircraft will soon follow.
After arriving in Patuxent, the Tritons will be equipped with a suite of sophisticated sensors for additional testing. The first of the MQ-4Cs are expected to deliver to the Navy in 2017.
The Navy, however, delayed production from fiscal 2015 to the following year to account for some developmental delays and to save money.
