New Navy Ocean Warfare Drones to Pass Targeting Data to Carriers in Pacific

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By Kris Osborn – Warrior Maven

Navy Aircraft Carrier Strike Groups in the Pacific will soon receive improved targeting data, video feeds and sensor information from new high-tech ocean warfare drones specially engineered to track enemy ships, small boats, aircraft and land weapons.

The Navy’s emerging MQ-4C Triton, which will introduce new tactical and strategic dimensions to maritime combat, is on track for early operational capability in Guam by the end of this year, service officials said.

Surface warships, reconnaissance aircraft, ground sensor nodes and even fighter attack aircraft will be better positioned to receive targeting data on enemy movements both faster and across farther distances than currently possible.

“The early operational capability will include two baseline aircraft (Triton) that will be equipped with maritime radar, electro-optical/infrared sensors, Automatic Identification System and Electronic Support Measures,” Jamie Cosgrove, spokeswoman for Naval Air Systems Command, told Warrior Maven.

The Triton is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drone designed to bring endurance, altitude, range and persistent stare ability over a wide, expansive area; it can stay on missions for over 24 hours at altitudes greater than 50,000 feet, Navy developers explained.

Using specially configured maritime sensors and radar systems, the Triton can cover broad areas out on the ocean in a single mission. The idea is to provide ship commanders with an ability to detect and see targets, threats and items of interest in real time from great distances using the sensors, cameras and data-links on the drone. The 45 foot-long, 32,000-pound Triton aircraft has a wingspan of 131 feet. Other specs include a full day’s worth of flight, an altitude limit over 10 miles, and an operational range of 8,200 nautical miles.