Curtiss-Wright Controls Applauds Northrop Grumman's Successful Test Flight of its New MQ-4C Triton UAV
CHARLOTTE, NC – August 14, 2013
Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. today extended its congratulations to Northrop Grumman on its recent successful historic test flight of the MQ-4C Triton. The Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is a maritime surveillance aircraft being developed for the U.S. Navy under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program.
Curtiss-Wright is a valued partner with Northrop Grumman, and provides two critical onboard flight subsystems used on the Triton. Curtiss-Wright supplies the Integrated Mission Management Computer (IMMC) that controls the aircraft’s flight, and the Advanced Mission Management System (AMMS) that communicates with the onboard sensors, and relays information to the ground station.
Triton will provide the U.S. Navy with a persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system to protect the fleet, and to provide the capability to detect, track, classify, and identify maritime and littoral targets.
"For over fifteen years, Curtiss-Wright has had the privilege of partnering with Northrop Grumman to provide advanced computer subsystems that serve on its history-making UAS," said Tom Quinly, president of Curtiss-Wright Controls. "We are especially proud to continue this legacy as a valued partner, supporting the exciting new MQ-4C Triton. We congratulate Northrop Grumman on the outstanding success of this important new maritime surveillance aircraft’s initial flight."
About the MQ-4C Triton
Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton, a maritime derivative of the RQ-4B Global Hawk, is the airborne element of the U.S. Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) program. Triton is the next generation of the Defense Department’s high
altitude, long endurance UAS. With a wingspan greater than that of a Boeing 737, the Triton is able to provide persistent maritime surveillance, supporting an 11,500 mile flight range without refueling. The Triton’s ability for continuous sustained operations over an area of interest at great distances enables it to provide persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance directly to the maritime commander.
The system is expected to enter service sometime in 2016. The MQ-4C Triton provides the U.S. Navy with an advanced autonomous air vehicle and state-of-the-art, service-oriented architecture mission control system.
Curtiss-Wright and Global Hawk
As an industry leader in UAS computing technology, Curtiss-Wright has also supplied Northrop Grumman with the two integrated main mission management computers that act as the "brain" of the Global Hawk UAS, which has been in service since 2001. Curtiss-Wright has supported Global Hawk from its inception through each variant for well over a decade. Curtiss-Wright also provides rotary position sensors and electromechanical rotary actuators for this intelligence surveillance aircraft.
The Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions division develops and manufactures the IMMC and AMMS units for Triton at its facility in Santa Clarita, California.
About Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.
Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Curtiss-Wright Controls is the Controls segment of Curtiss-Wright Corporation and a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technologies for niche actuation and drive applications, integrated sensors and controls, and electronic subsystems internationally for the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. For more information, visit www.cwcontrols.com.
About Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) is an innovative engineering company that provides highly engineered, critical function products, systems and services in the areas of flow control, motion control and surface treatment technologies to the defense, energy and commercial/industrial markets. The legacy company of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of design and manufacturing innovation, and prides itself on long-standing customer relationships. The company employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com
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