Northrop Grumman and the US Navy officially welcomed the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system to the fleet with a ceremony to celebrate the commencement of flight operations.
Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu is home to the maintenance detachment of Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP)-19 DET Point Mugu, the Navy’s first unmanned patrol squadron. Maintainers will continue to conduct training and tests on the Triton aircraft before it deploys to Guam later this year.
Brian Chappel, Sector Vice President and General Manager, Autonomous Systems, Northrop Grumman, joined Doug Shaffer, Vice President, Triton programs, Northrop Grumman, and Rear Admiral William Wheeler III in cutting the ribbon on the refurbished hangar.
Built by Northrop Grumman, the MQ-4C Triton is an unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft system with an autonomous capability that is piloted from a ground station. Triton can fly for up to 24 hours and reach altitudes of up to 55,000 feet. Flying high above the battle space, Triton provides a critical common operating picture, disseminating images and near-real time video to commanders around the world.
Mr Shaffer commented: “With each new part of the Triton infrastructure that the Navy stands up, we move closer to making Triton operational and showing the fleet what this remarkable aircraft system can do. I look forward to the day when this hangar is full of activity leading up to the Guam employment.”
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