Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




UAV NEWS
Northrop Grumman, US Navy Complete Triton Unmanned Aircraft's First Flight
by Staff Writers
Palmdale CA (SPX) May 24, 2013


The Northrop Grumman-built Triton unmanned aircraft system completed its first flight May 22 from the company's manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif. The flight, which was about 1.5 hours, successfully demonstrated control systems that allow Triton to operate autonomously. Triton is specially designed to fly surveillance missions up to 24 hours at altitudes of more than 10 miles, allowing coverage out to 2,000 nautical miles. The system's advanced suite of sensors can detect and automatically classify different types of ships. (Northrop Grumman photo by Bob Brown). For a larger version of this image please go here.

The Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton high-altitude unmanned aircraft successfully completed its first flight from the company's manufacturing facility in Palmdale.

Triton is specially designed to fly surveillance missions up to 24 hours at altitudes of more than 10 miles - allowing coverage out to 2,000 nautical miles. The advanced suite of sensors can detect and automatically classify different types of ships.

"First flight represents a critical step in maturing Triton's systems before operationally supporting the Navy's maritime surveillance mission around the world," said Capt. James Hoke, Triton program manager with Naval Air Systems Command. "Replacing our aging surveillance aircraft with a system like Triton will allow us to monitor ocean areas significantly larger with greater persistence."

A Navy and Northrop Grumman flight test team conducted about a 1.5-hour flight that started at 7:10 a.m. from Palmdale.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor to the Navy's MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program.

"Triton is the most advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] unmanned aircraft system ever designed for use across vast ocean areas and coastal regions," said Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman Triton UAS deputy program director. "Through a cooperative effort with the Navy and our industry partners, we successfully demonstrated the flight control systems that allow Triton to operate autonomously. We couldn't be prouder of the entire team for this achievement."

Additional flight tests will take place from Palmdale to mature the system before being flown to the main flight test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., later this year.

In 2008, Northrop Grumman was awarded a systems development and demonstration contract to build two aircraft and test them in preparation for operational missions.

The Navy's program of record calls for 68 Tritons to be built.

Triton carries a variety of ISR sensor payloads that allow military commanders to gather high-resolution imagery, use radar to detect targets, and provide airborne communications and information sharing capabilities to military units across long distances.

At 130.9 feet, Triton has a wingspan larger than the world's most common commercial airliner, the Boeing 737. Combined with an efficient engine and other aerodynamic design features, Triton can fly 11,500 miles without refueling.

Northrop Grumman's Triton industry team includes Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE Systems, Curtis-Wright Corporation, L3 Communications, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, Sierra Nevada Corporation and Vought Aircraft Industries.

.


Related Links
Northrop Grumman
UAV News - Suppliers and Technology






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








UAV NEWS
Israel said to be world leader in UAV exports
Tel Aviv, Israel (UPI) May 20, 2013
Israel's high-tech defense industry leads the world in exporting unmanned aerial vehicles, a new study says, while UAV designers are reported to be moving toward developing drones so advanced they could replace manned aircraft. The international business consultancy Frost and Sullivan reports that over the last eight years Israeli manufacturers have sold UAVs worth more than $4.6 billio ... read more


UAV NEWS
Moon being pushed away from Earth faster than ever

Bright Explosion on the Moon

NASA says meteor impact on the moon glowed like a star

Where on Earth did the moon's water come from

UAV NEWS
Curiosity Drills Second Rock Target

Mars Rover Opportunity Examines Clay Clues in Rock

Opportunity Rides Into History For Offworld Drive

NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Drills Second Rock Target

UAV NEWS
Desert Tests Pave Way for Human Exploration of Small Bodies

Russia designs reusable spacecraft good for as many as five missions

British astronaut 'Major Tim' to fly to ISS

Danish Space Venture ready for lift off

UAV NEWS
Waiting for Shenzhou 10

China launches communications satellite

On Course for Shenzhou 10

Yuanwang III, VI depart for space-tracking missions

UAV NEWS
Next destination: space

Russia to Send 'Stress-Relief' Software to ISS

Mice, gerbils perish in Russia space flight

Star Canadian spaceman back on Earth, relishing fresh air

UAV NEWS
O3b Networks Launcher and payload integration are underway at Kourou

Arianespace underscores strong partnership with Japan during Tokyo meetings

O3b Networks' initial satellite is fueled for Arianespace's upcoming Soyuz launch from the Spaceport

Ariane Flight VA214's launch vehicle marks a preparation milestone

UAV NEWS
Critical Kepler Reaction Wheel Fails: Mission End In Sight

Sifting Through the Atmosphere's of Far-Off Worlds

New Method of Finding Planets Scores its First Discovery

Team Takes Part in Discovering New Planet

UAV NEWS
Iron-platinum alloys could be new-generation hard drives

Computational tool translates complex data into simplified 2-dimensional images

3-D modeling technology offers groundbreaking solution for engineers

NASA Seeks High-Performance Spaceflight Computing Capabilities




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement