Triton Takes to the Skies

摘要

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle undertook its first flight from Palmdale, California, on May 22. The aircraft (BuNo 168457) completed an 80-minute sortie, during which it successfully demonstrated autonomous control and reached a maximum altitude of 20,000ft (6,096m). The Triton has been developed to meet the US Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) requirement to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and augment the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Assembly of the prototype began in early 2012 (see MQ-4C BAMS Milestones, April 2012, p24) and the first flight was originally due to take place at the end of that year.