Northrop Grumman has delivered the first MQ-4C Triton in IFC-4 (Multi-INT) configuration to the US Navy.
Known as B8, this is the first production Triton to be upgraded to the multi-intelligence configuration to meet the US Navy’s critical maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting needs. B8 was delivered to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, on Feb 1.
This is a significant milestone in the Triton program and for Australia's acquisition plans under Air 7000 1B, as the IFC-4 configuration is the one also specified by the RAAF.
The identical capabilities will allow the RAAF and US Navy to share data and maintain an 'unblinking' autonomous intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capability over some of the world’s most critical maritime regions.
Australia is slated to acquire at least three and possibly seven Triton aircraft in the IFC-4 configuration. In US Navy service, the Triton is designed to replace the Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (and complement the Boeing P-8A Poseidon). It will also replace the US Navy EP-3E Aeries signals intelligence (SIGINT) platform, meaning the aircraft will provide Australia with a significant SIGINT capability beyond that offered by the current AP-3C (EW) Orions and future MC-55A Peregrine fleets.
The IFC-4 configuration has sensors which include a Northrop Grumman AN/ZPY-3 Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) X-band electronically scanned surveillance radar under the fuselage, Raytheon AN/DAS-3 electro-optic, infra-red (EO/IR) sensor under the nose, Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a Sierra Nevada AN/ZLQ-1 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) payload for SIGINT gathering.