Tag Archives: MQ-4C Triton

Navy Sending Two Guam-Based MQ-4C Tritons to Japan for Temporary Operations

Navy Sending Two Guam-Based MQ-4C Tritons to Japan for Temporary Operations

200112-F-SX156-1006rANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (Jan. 12, 2020) An MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) taxis after landing at Andersen Air Force Base for a deployment as part of an early operational capability (EOC) to further develop the concept of operations and fleet learning associated with operating a high-altitude, long-endurance system in the maritime domain. Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP) 19, the first Triton UAS squadron, will operate and maintain two aircraft in Guam under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72, the U.S. Navy’s lead for patrol, reconnaissance and surveillance forces in U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Brooks)

The Navy is temporarily moving two MQ-4C unmanned aircraft from Guam to a base in Japan, the service announced today. Read More

House Armed Services Committee Adds Money for EPF, Footstomps Need for Second Virginia SSN

House Armed Services Committee Adds Money for EPF, Footstomps Need for Second Virginia SSN

Moon over U.S. Capitol on Nov. 13, 2016. NASA Photo

This post has been updated to note the markup ended and the bill will next be heading to a House floor vote. 

The House Armed Services Committee reiterated its support for Navy shipbuilding today in an all-day markup of its annual defense bill, voting to include money for an additional Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) and issuing an opening argument to the Senate for an additional Virginia-class attack submarine. Read More

Navy MQ-4 Triton Flying Operational Missions From Guam

Navy MQ-4 Triton Flying Operational Missions From Guam

Navy MQ-4C Triton taxis at Andersen Air Force Base on April 29, 2020. US Navy Photo

Almost three months after arriving in Guam, a pair of MQ-4C Triton autonomous, unmanned aircraft have integrated into fleet operations and training flights and stretched the Navy’s maritime domain awareness across the Indo-Pacific, according to the Navy. Read More

Navy's First MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Deploy To Guam

Navy’s First MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Deploy To Guam

An MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) idles on a runway at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam after arriving for a deployment as part of an early operational capability (EOC) test. US Navy Photo

About a year later than initially expected, the first two MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft arrived in Guam over the weekend, marking a significant step toward increasing the Navy’s Western Pacific reconnaissance and surveillance capability, the service announced this weekend. Read More

VIDEO: Iran Shoots Down Navy Surveillance Drone in ‘Unprovoked Attack’

VIDEO: Iran Shoots Down Navy Surveillance Drone in ‘Unprovoked Attack’

An undated photo of RQ-4A BAMS-D flying over Maryland. Northrop Grumman photo.

This post has been updated with a statement from U.S. Air Forces Central Command and comments from President Trump.

A Navy high-altitude surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC announced on Thursday. Read More

CNO Richardson Wants Aggressive Timelines for New Weapons, Operational Concepts in Updated Navy 'Design'

CNO Richardson Wants Aggressive Timelines for New Weapons, Operational Concepts in Updated Navy ‘Design’

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson visits Indonesia to meet with Indonesia navy leadership and to reaffirm the U.S. Navy’s commitment to strengthen the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Indonesia on Oct. 20, 2018. US Navy Photo

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson lays out aggressive acquisition goals and overhauls in how the Navy develops new technologies and implements operating concepts in a sweeping 2.0 revision of his Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority. The push to field new kit and concepts is his effort to ready the Navy for not only high-end warfare but also gray-zone conflict and other challenges related to Russian and Chinese aggression that the service and joint force will have to confront, according to a copy of the document reviewed by USNI News on Monday. Read More

Navy Stand-Down of Triton Drones Will Continue Until Crash Investigation Concludes

Navy Stand-Down of Triton Drones Will Continue Until Crash Investigation Concludes

The MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system completes its inaugural cross-country ferry flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Triton took off from the Northrop Grumman Palmdale, Calif. facility Sept. 17, 2014. US Navy photo.

The Navy will continue its stand-down of unmanned MQ-4C Triton operations in the wake of a crash in California until the investigation into the mishap is complete. Read More