Navy UAV conducts first flight with search radar
The US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAS equipped with a new search radar completed its inaugural flight April 18 over Patuxent River air space, Naval Air Systems Command has reported.
Photo: The MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft takes off from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, to conduct its first flight from the naval base (US Navy)
The US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton UAS equipped with a new search radar completed its inaugural flight April 18 over Patuxent River air space, Naval Air Systems Command has reported. The radar, known as the Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS), is expected to enhance maritime domain awareness by providing the MQ-4C with a 360° view of a large geographic area while providing all-weather coverage to expedite detecting, classifying, tracking and identifying points of interest.
“This first sensor flight is a huge achievement for the programme,” said Sean Burke, Triton programme manager. “Our Navy and Northrop Grumman team has worked extremely hard on this developmental effort, completing more than 40 surrogate flights over the last three years, and we saw the realisation of that development work.”
During this initial test event, MFAS exercised its primary operating mode, known as Maritime Surface Surveillance (MSS). The MSS mode provides continuous watch over a broad area.
“Our primary objective was to test this new radar, but we also looked at how the aircraft performed as well as testing additional data links,” said Lt Cmdr Glenn Rioux, government flight test director and senior Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 representative supporting the Triton integrated test team. “This was a successful flight on many levels. We are still reviewing the data and actively planning our next text event.”
Along with the MFAS radar, the MQ-4C will also carry an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor that will provide still imagery and full-motion video of potential threats; an electronic support measures package to identify and geolocate radar threat signals; and an automatic identification system (AIS) that will detect and track vessels equipped with AIS responders.
When operational, the MQ-4C Triton UAS will provide 24/7 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage virtually anywhere in the world, said the Navy.