Navy begins Triton maritime-patrol flight operations at Point Mugu, Calif.

The U.S. Navy hosted a ceremony last week at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, Calif., to mark the start of flight operations for the Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton long-range maritime patrol unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Northrop Grumman officials say the Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 maintenance detachment will test and conduct maritime patrol training on two MQ-4C UAVs before the service branch deploys the UAVs to Guam in late 2018. A newly refurbished hangar at the Point Mugu facility can house as many as four Triton UAVs. The MQ-4C Triton can operate for as long as 24 hours.