Northrop Grumman-built Navy Triton unmanned aircraft achieves historic first flight, begins testing
PALMDALE, Calif., 22 May 2013. The MQ-4C Triton unmanned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft platform, operated by Northrop Grumman and U.S. Navy personnel on the ground in Palmdale, Calif., achieved its first flight.
The 80-minute flight in restricted airspace marks the start of tests intended to validate the Northrop Grumman-built system for future fleet operations. During its first flight, the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) reached up to 20,000 feet in altitude.
"This flight represents a significant milestone for the Triton team," recognizes Rear Adm. Mat Winter, who leads the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons at Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. "The work they have done and will continue to do is critical to the future of naval aviation, particularly to our maritime patrol and reconnaissance community."
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Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.
