RQ-4 UAV
Abstract
MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). The popular name Triton was approved for the MQ-4C UAV in June 2012, designating the RQ-4 Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) as the MQ-4C Triton. The MQ-4C Triton is a High Altitude-Long Endurance UAV designed to provide Fleet and Combatant Commanders with persistent maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) of nearly all the world's high-density sea-lanes, littorals, and areas of national interest. Envisioned as an unmanned adjunct to the P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft and crucial to the recapitalization of Navy's airborne maritime ISR capability, the system will seek to leverage Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force manpower, training and maintenance efficiencies. The MQ-4C air vehicle is based on Northrop Grumman's Block 20 Global Hawk and features sensors designed to provide near worldwide coverage through a network of five orbits inside and outside continental United States, with sufficient air vehicles to remain airborne for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, out to ranges of 2000 nautical miles. Onboard sensors will provide detection, classification, tracking and identification of maritime targets and include maritime radar, electro-optical/infra-red and Electronic Support Measures systems. Additionally, the MQ-4C will have a communications relay capability designed to link dispersed forces in the theater of operations and serve as a node in the Navy's FORCEnet strategy. Tactical-level data analysis will occur in real-time at shore-based Mission Control sites connected to the air vehicle via satellite communications. Further intelligence exploitation can be conducted at Fleet shore-based sites or aboard Aircraft Carriers and other ships. MQ-4C will play a significant role in the Sea Shield and FORCEnet pillars of Sea Power 21. In its Sea Shield role, the system will rely on its key attribute of persistence to provide the supported Combatant Command or Fleet Commander with unparalleled situational awareness of the maritime battle space as it develops and sustains the Common Operational Tactical Picture. The system will also serve as a Fleet Response Plan enabler, while acting as a trip wire for Intelligence Preparation of the Environment. Additionally, Triton UAV will be a FORCEnet enabler and relay platform, directly connected to both the Global Information Grid and the Distributed Common Ground System-Navy Information Backbone. This PE includes funding in FY15-18 for future incremental development in support of Triton Increment 3 signals intelligence (SIGINT) capability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Source ID
- 0305220N_7_1319_PB_2014
- Change Summary Explanation
- Technical: Not applicable. Schedule: PB14 shifts the first year of production from FY14 to FY15 and extends the System Development and Demonstration program. As a result of this schedule change, Milestone C, Operational Evaluation, Full Rate Production and Initial Operational Capability have all shifted accordingly. Nomenclature changed for PB14 submission from Engineering and Manufacturing Development to System Development and Demonstration to maintain consistency with Triton acquisition documentation.
- Service Agency Name
- Navy
Entities
Organizations
- United States Navy
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