Australia unveils first MQ-4C Triton

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles (left) and Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell introduced the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton aircraft into the RAAF fleet on 31 July 2024 at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian government has introduced the first Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The Triton (known as ‘AUS 1') was unveiled at RAAF Base Tindal on 31 July, according to the Australian Department of Defence (DoD). According to the Australian Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, the high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will “significantly enhance our ability to persistently patrol Australia's north and broader maritime approaches”.

Australia has three additional Tritons on order. When delivered, the UAVs will operate from Tindal with the RAAF's No 9 Squadron, with the unit's operations and control exercised from RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, the DoD has said.

Production of Australia's “three remaining Tritons currently under contract is progressing as planned, through their … schedules” at the company's Palmdale, California, facility, Northrop Grumman said.

AUS 1's unveiling comes six weeks after the UAV arrived in Australia on 16 June. The UAV was flown to Australia during a three-segment flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, in Maryland, according to Northrop Grumman.

The MQ-4C Triton supports Canberra's broad efforts to improve its capabilities across northern Australia. As Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said on 31 July, Australia “must continue to enhance our operations from … [the] northern bases, and the MQ-4C Triton is a tangible example of a capability that will assist us in achieving this task”.