This acquisition means the Navy will soon have twenty-seven MQ-4C Triton drones in its arsenal.
From Russia and Ukraine to the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the game of technological one-upmanship in drones/unmanned aerial systems (UAS) continues to play out around the world.
As The National Interest has recently reported, the UAS warfare technology race is becoming more of a factor in maritime warfare as well as in the air-to-ground arena. For example, last month we covered upgrades to the U.S.-made General Atomics MQ-9B SeaGuardian antisubmarine warfare (ASW) drone and the testing of the T-600 drone/Sting Ray torpedo tandem.
Now, as further evidence that the United States isn’t simply sitting idly by whilst its adversaries boost their maritime UAS capabilities, the U.S. Defense Department is boosting its MQ-4C Triton fleet.
America’s Big Plans for the MQ-4C Triton
As noted in a March 15, 2025, article by the SOFPREP News Team:
“In a major boost to the US Navy’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $267 million contract to produce two additional MQ-4C Triton drones … This latest contract is part of the Navy’s broader strategy to expand its fleet of MQ-4C drones to a total of 27, enhancing its ability to monitor vast expanses of the ocean and provide vital real-time intelligence … The deal will not only supply more of these advanced unmanned aerial systems but also include operational bases and support services, ensuring the Navy is fully equipped to operate this state-of-the-art technology.”
Meanwhile, Defence Industry Europe published an article on the same day at the SOFPREP piece noting that the MQ-4C purchase deal also includes a $1.4 million spare parts package for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which is the first foreign military sales customer of this particular drone.
The Tritons will also act as a complement to—and force multiplier for—the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. Ultimately, the United States plans to purchase sixty-eight of them, whilst the RAAF has ordered three thus far (a 2016 Australian Defense White Paper said Australia would ultimately acquire a total of seven).
MQ-4C Triton Brief History and Specifications
Developed from RQ-4 Global Hawk, the Triton made its maiden flight on May 22, 2013, and made its official operational debut in May 2018. It achieved initial operating capability with the U.S. Navy in September 2023 and made its first flight in service of the RAAF two months thereafter. As the manufacturer’s official info page proudly proclaims:
“MQ-4C Triton’s persistent, high-altitude maritime ISR detects, tracks, and classifies objects quickly and safely by flying higher, longer and more efficiently while quickly sharing data to enable military coordination … Triton is the only autonomous high altitude, long endurance (HALE) maritime aircraft capable of operating at altitudes above 50,000 ft, for 24-plus hours with a range of 7,400 nautical miles.”
Additional tech specs and vital stats include a fuselage length of 47.6 feet, a wingspan of 130.9 feet, a height of 15.4 feet, a gross weight of 32,250 lbs., and a max airspeed of 357 mph (320 knots). It is powered by a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan engine that generates 6,495 to 8,917 pound-force of thrust.
About the Author: Christian D. Orr
Christian D. Orr was previously a Senior Defense Editor for National Security Journal (NSJ) and 19FortyFive. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He has also been published in The Daily Torch, The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security, and Simple Flying. Last but not least, he is a Companion of the Order of the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS). If you’d like to pick his brain further, you can ofttimes find him at the Old Virginia Tobacco Company (OVTC) lounge in Manassas, Virginia, partaking of fine stogies and good quality human camaraderie.
Image: Daisuke Shimizu / Shutterstock.com
