Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review 11-20-15
P. 6
Triton UAS begins
operational assessment,
prepares for production
The MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft sys- ton’s collection of data in support of fleet
tem began one of the events that will be used customers while exercising each of the sys-
to support the program’s Milestone C review tem’s mission areas — intelligence, surface
and entry into low-rate initial production Nov. warfare, amphibious warfare and missions of
DW1DYDO$LU6WDWLRQ3DWX[HQW5LYHU0G state. This phase will also identify risk areas
for the follow-on Initial Operational Test and
This event, known as operational assess- (YDOXDWLRQSKDVH
ment, will take place over two months where
Triton will conduct six flights and execute “We worked very hard to demonstrate system
various operational test scenarios to assess the performance and stability leading up to the start
system’s operational performance at this point RIRSHUDWLRQDODVVHVVPHQW´VDLG6HDQ%XUNH
in the program. Triton program manager. “We are eager to
move into initial production as the next step to
These set scenarios will demonstrate Tri-
Navy photographs
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GHOLYHULQJ7ULWRQWRWKHÀHHW´ low-rate initial production. The Navy plans to
2$LVDQLQGHSHQGHQWORRNDW7ULWRQ¶VDELO- buy three production aircraft in 2016.
ity to detect, identify, classify, and track con- The Navy plans to order a total of 68 air-
tacts during both day and night operations. craft from Northrop Grumman, with the goal
Part of the assessment is to better understand RIKDYLQJWKH¿UVWDLUFUDIWRSHUDWLRQDOE\
WKHFKDOOHQJHVWKDWÀHHWSHUVRQQHOPLJKWHQ- The MQ-4C Triton will be a forward deployed,
counter when they operate and maintain the land-based, autonomously operated system that
Triton system. provides a persistent maritime intelligence, sur-
veillance and reconnaissance capability using a
The Navy expects to achieve a Milestone C multi-sensor mission payload.
decision early next year followed by entry into
AEDC transonic wind tunnel undergoes calibration
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known as calibrating the tunnel and takes
place every few years to ensure that correct
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6 Aerotech News and Review November 20, 2015
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