Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $9,536,612 modification (P00009) to a firm-fixed-price order (N0001921F0806) to a previously awarded basic ordering agreement. This modification is for the procurement of last-time buys, material required for the continuance of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System production and sustainment efforts for the Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Work will be performed in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada (35.32%); Chantilly, Virginia (24.23%); San Diego, California (14.48%); Sterling, Virginia (12%); San Jose, California (7.08%); Pine Brook, New Jersey (2.49%); Farnborough, Hampshire, England (1.9%); and various locations within of the continental U.S. (2.46%), and is expected to be completed in March 2028.
Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $782,271; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,347,956; fiscal 2022 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,089,357; and RAAF funds in the amount of $2,317,028, will be obligated at the time of award, $1,089,357 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
The first Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (HALE UAV) on order for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will soon arrive home following the successful delivery and installation of its ground support systems, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 12 June.
The DoD added that the aircraft, designated AUS 1, also completed the first leg of its ferry flight from Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California production facility to the US Navy in Patuxent River, Maryland, on 16 February for final testing, fit-out and certification prior to embarking on its final journey to Australia.
“These events form part of a complex series of processes, systems and technologies that have been integrated in preparation for AUS 1’s arrival on home soil; and in support of the additional aircraft that will be delivered to complete the RAAF MQ-4C Triton fleet,”
said Group Captain Andrew Leahy, Director – Future Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems Program Office in Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).
“In January this year, the ‘Trailerised’ Forward Operating Base, which is the initial ground ‘Mission Control Station’ for the MQ-4C Triton, was successfully delivered to RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory – representing another significant milestone for the project,” added Group Captain Leahy.
Sources: DoD; Asian Military Review