Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton sensor and mission systems suite has been put to the test under operational conditions during the recent Northern Edge 2023 exercise, conducted around the Gulf of Alaska.
The suite was installed in Northrop Grumman’s manned Gulfstream IV Triton flying test bed (FTB) aircraft, which flew multiple fights over a seven-day period during the exercise and focused on tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination of information.
The Triton FTB tracked and monitored maritime traffic within its field of view, enabling ground operators at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage to form, process and disseminate a maritime common operating picture.
“Northern Edge strengthens the readiness and operational capabilities of joint forces, so the ability to test and demonstrate critical long-range targeting capabilities with Triton helps ensure we’re ready to effectively operate and respond to contingencies in the Pacific, or anywhere in the world,” commented Captain Josh Guerre, Program Manager of the US Navy’s PMA-262 (Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems) office.
The test of Triton’s capabilities will inform the forthcoming Initial Operational Capability (IOC) milestone with the US Navy later this year, which in turn will provide Australia’s Air 7000 Phase 1B project managers with increased confidence ahead of the first delivery in 2024.
The Triton sensor suite aboard the Gulfstream FTB included the Northrop Grumman Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) radar, a maritime Automatic Information System (AIS), an electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) camera, a satellite communications (SATCOM) system and Common Data Link (CDL).
“The system also includes Triton’s Minotaur mission system. The configuration is intended to closely match MQ-4C configuration and emulate the MQ-4C mission performance to provide a platform for development of TTPs, CONOPS, and future system capabilities,” Northrop Grumman’s Director of the Triton Program Rho Cauley-Bruner told ADM.
“Northrop Grumman is leveraging our Triton flying test bed to develop, integrate, and demonstrate advanced technologies to meet the Navy’s current and future Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T) requirements.”
Ms Cauley-Bruner said that installing the Triton payloads and communications systems on the manned Gulfstream FTB enables rapid integration, demonstration and testing of new and emerging capabilities to remain abreast of the evolving threats.
“Our newest Triton surrogate debuted in September 2019 and has flown 65 times since then, demonstrating and maturing a wide range of capabilities for PMA 262, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the DoD System Capabilities office (SCO) and the Navy Undersea Warfighting Development Centre (UWDC). This includes support to test exercises, playing the role of an uncrewed Triton,” she added.
During Northern Edge 2023, the Triton sensor suite collected maritime awareness data to develop a common operating picture (COP) and, using its Mission Management System (MMS), enabled the COP to be transmitted to ground operators at Elmendorf-Richardson via the aircraft’s CDL.
Ms Cauley-Bruner told ADM that the FTB was operated in a similar manner to the real MQ-4C’s recent deployment to Guam, but with the added demonstration of its ability to provide persistent targeting data.
“Flying daily, our FTB team successfully integrated into Northern Edge’s warfighting scenarios over the two-week exercise period. Beyond sensor performance, a Triton’s Minotaur interface facilitated real-time dissemination of its data to scenario participants to support tactical decisions and courses of action,” she explained.
“The FTB included on-board processing of mission data using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) techniques and in the future, these techniques could improve sensor and system products to help operators prioritise the use of Triton’s resources, sensor, and communication systems as well as interoperation with other joint assets.”
Ms Cauley-Bruner also said that the participation in Exercise Northern Edge provided an opportunity to allow participants to gain an early insight of Triton’s capabilities in a wartime scenario.
“Importantly, this experience enables operators to develop and refine CONOPS and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) that can fully exploit Triton’s capabilities to support sea-control in contested environments,” she said.
With regard to Australia’s Triton program, Northrop Grumman Australia’s Triton Program Director ‘Jake’ Campbell told ADM that the recent Defence Strategic Review (DSR) has emphasised capability priorities associated with Long Range Strike and Integrated Targeting.
“The capabilities demonstrated at Northern Edge will have direct applicability to those priorities. The RAAF, through AIR 7000, is part of the Triton cooperative program and so the development pathway for Triton has direct applicability to Australia,” Campbell noted.