Latest news with #MQ-4CTriton
Axios
18-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Northrop eyes Norway as it works on Tritons for Australia
Northrop Grumman is bullish on the international appeal of its MQ-4C Triton, with Norway among the potential buyers of the massive maritime drone. Why it matters: Militaries want more smart machinery, and governments want more dirt on their neighbors. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) strapped with specialty sensors can satisfy both cravings. Driving the news: Reporters on June 13 got an intimate look at Tritons housed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, home to the Naval Air Systems Command. State of play: Northrop's delivered 20 Tritons to the U.S. Navy. It's sent another three to Australia, and is building a fourth right now in Mississippi. "In the last six months, we've been able to execute 45 flights per month across all three operational orbits," said Capt. Josh Guerre, the persistent maritime unmanned aircraft systems program manager. "You really are supporting concurrent operations, 24/7." Zoom in: Triton can fly around the clock at altitudes greater than 50,000 feet, hoovering up geospatial and signals intelligence. It can also pair with Boeing-made P-8 aircraft, which hunt submarines. Brad Champion, the Triton enterprise director at Northrop, described it as picking "up all the metal on the water." The latest: Both Northrop and General Atomics responded to Norway's ask for long-range drones. "They have a very vast ocean region that they're responsible for," Champion said. "Their economic exclusion zone is very large within the High North, and they are procuring P-8s, so they are set up very well to continue to follow the U.S. Navy doctrine of that manned-unmanned teaming." Champion expects a decision this year. He referred an ask for specifics to Oslo. The other side: C. Mark Brinkley, a spokesperson for General Atomics, told Axios the company has its MQ-9B SeaGuardian in the running.
Libya Observer
16-06-2025
- Libya Observer
US surveillance aircraft monitor Libyan coast
Two US surveillance aircraft have been spotted conducting intelligence operations off the Libyan coast. Tracking data published by ItaMilRadar, a military flight monitoring platform, showed a US Navy Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton operating from the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily. The high-endurance drone patrolled airspace near Libya's western border and the capital Tripoli. A second aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis, took off from Constanța, Romania, and performed multiple reconnaissance loops between Tripoli and Misrata. The jet is equipped for advanced signals intelligence and is capable of intercepting and analyzing electronic transmissions. News Tagged: ItaMilRadar
Libya Review
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
US Intensifies Aerial Surveillance Near Libya
The Italian defense aviation tracking website ItamilRadar has reported intensified US aerial activity in the central Mediterranean, specifically in airspace adjacent to Libya. The operations, described as part of ongoing intelligence and reconnaissance efforts, underscore Washington's continued strategic interest in North Africa amid growing political instability in Libya. On Sunday, two US military aircraft were tracked conducting surveillance missions between Sicily, Tunisia, and the Libyan coast. The first aircraft, an MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle operated by the US Navy, used the callsign 'BLKCAT5' and was registered as '169660.' It was believed to have taken off from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily. The drone conducted extended patrols over international waters, focusing on the maritime zone near the Libyan-Tunisian border and the coastal area surrounding Tripoli. The mission likely involved monitoring shipping activity and coastal movements. The second aircraft was a US Army Challenger 650 ARTEMIS, a jet configured for signals intelligence (SIGINT), registered as 'N488CR.' It departed from Constanța, Romania, and carried out reconnaissance loops off the coast between Tripoli and Misrata. Equipped with advanced electronic monitoring systems, the aircraft is capable of collecting data on communications and radar emissions from ground-based installations and vessels. Simultaneously, a US Air Force C-130J Super Hercules, registration '07-8614,' arrived at Misrata Airport from Souda Bay Air Base in Crete. Details regarding the cargo or mission purpose remain undisclosed. These aerial operations come at a time of renewed political and military tension in western Libya, particularly around Tripoli. The coordinated deployment of ISR platforms suggests an ongoing assessment of the security environment and maritime dynamics, possibly linked to counterterrorism, migration monitoring, or safeguarding regional interests. Tags: dronelibyaSurveillanceus
Libyan Express
23-05-2025
- General
- Libyan Express
NATO drone conducts ‘unusual' patrol off Libyan coast
BY Libyan Express May 23, 2025 - 06:37 The NATO owned and operated RQ-4D Phoenix is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Photo: Northrop Grumman A NATO surveillance drone carried out an extended reconnaissance mission off Libya's coast after experiencing communication problems during a flight towards the Black Sea, according to Italian aviation monitoring website ItamilRadar. The Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix drone took off from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily on Thursday morning, initially bound for the Black Sea region. The mission marked the first appearance of this type of aircraft on radar systems for several months, the website reported. After entering Greek airspace, the drone began flying in circular patterns, which ItamilRadar suggested could indicate technical difficulties. Despite the apparent malfunction, the aircraft continued towards its original destination. The drone subsequently transmitted an emergency '7600' squawk code whilst over the Black Sea, signalling a loss of radio communication with ground control. This prompted mission controllers to abort the operation and order the aircraft's return to Sicily. However, during the return flight over the Mediterranean, the communication issues appeared to be resolved. The drone then diverted southward and began conducting surveillance operations along the Libyan coastline instead. ItamilRadar noted that the NATO mission coincided with a separate, extended operation by a US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone over Libya. The website described the simultaneous missions as 'particularly interesting', though it provided no further details about potential co-ordination between the operations. The incident highlights the complex nature of international surveillance operations in the Mediterranean region, where NATO and US forces regularly conduct reconnaissance missions to monitor regional security developments. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
China unleashes world's first 16-barrel gun to rain hellfire on enemy missiles, drones
To improve its anti-drone warfare and neutralize low-flying rockets, missiles, and helicopters, China has developed a new weapon system that equips a 16-barrel gun. According to China's state-run Global Times, the first-of-its-kind weapon system can also effectively counter drone swarms. This new air defense system is known as the anti-drone swarm and anti-missile barrage weapon system. Yu Bin, the system's chief designer, spoke in an interview that Global Times reported about the weapon's firing mechanism. He said the weapon shoots a "barrage," identical to firing a wall of ammunition. The barrage can cover all incoming target positions, effectively intercepting them by moving from a broad area to a precise point. Yu said that conventional air defense guns use the concept of "point to point" interception, whereas the new system uses the concept of "plane to point." The new concept follows an architecture where multiple air defense guns fire together to raise fire density and probability of interception. The new weapon is a close-in air defense barrage system equipped with a 16-barrel gun to fire 'unique munitions.' Yu added that this kind of system is not available globally, and it is the world's first system to intercept aerial threats such as drone swarms. Global Times reported that the system has a fast reload speed, high fire density, controllable barrage size, outstanding destructive power, and capability to accompany troops in maneuvers. Current air defense weapons struggle to handle drone swarms effectively. They often can't manage saturation attacks and are not cost-effective. However, the new barrage weapon system addresses these issues, according to Yu. This system has successfully demonstrated its ability to shoot down all small drones with a single barrage. It can also intercept fast air-launched weapons like missiles. In addition, it can counter rockets, mortars, and howitzer shells. Yu added that while the primary targets for this system are aerial threats like drone swarms, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles, it can also target ground or water surface targets when needed. The chief designer mentioned that the system is modular and can be installed on trucks, armored vehicles, or warships. Fu Qianshao, a military expert, told Global Times that this new weapon will be effective and cost-efficient against drone swarms and missiles. The barrage weapon is appealing for both domestic users and international markets as threats from drones continue to grow, Fu said. The US and Taiwan are working together to fill the Taiwan Strait with tens of thousands of drones. Along the Taiwan Strait, the US has already started deploying its long-range drones, such as the MQ-4C Triton. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense has ordered 3,500 domestically produced drones to counter China. In addition, Taiwan has plans to set up a large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing facility in Chiayi County to help establish its drone supply chain. Taiwan's new defense plan highlights the important role of drones in various military operations. In the initial defense phase, Taiwan plans to use larger drones, like the MQ-9B and Teng Yun, for ongoing surveillance. These drones will provide early warnings and support command and control in challenging environments. During the next phase, focusing on gaining control over coastal areas, the island plans to use smaller drones, such as the Albatross and Chien-Hsiang, for electronic warfare and to turn off coastal sensors. Finally, in the phase where they secure beach landings, Taiwan will deploy less expensive and easily replaceable drones like the ALTIUS 600M-V and Capricorn. These drones will conduct precise attacks on enemy forces and provide real-time targeting information to ground troops. In light of this, China is investing significantly in developing new anti-drone systems, including the recently unveiled anti-drone swarm and anti-missile barrage weapon system.
