Air force

Royal Australian Air Force ADVANCED MQ-4C UAV for Border Security

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• published: 03 Mar 2015
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The Royal Australian Air Force is planning to receive the MQ-4C UAV to improve border security and to stop boat people and people smugglers. The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development for the United States Navy as a surveillance aircraft. In tandem with its associated ground control station, it is considered an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program, the system is intended to provide real-time intelligence, reconnaissance missions (ISR) over vast ocean and coastal regions, continuous maritime surveillance, as well as search and rescue missions, for the U.S. Navy, and to complement the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, but the equipment to link the two platforms is currently unfunded.[2][3][4] Triton builds on elements of the Global Hawk UAS while incorporating reinforcements to the air frame and wing, along with de-icing and lightning protection systems. These capabilities allow the aircraft to descend through cloud layers to gain a closer view of ships and other targets at sea when needed. The current sensor suites allow ships to be tracked over time by gathering information on their speed, location, and classification.[5] The MQ-4C System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft was delivered in 2012 and the MQ-4C UAS was originally expected to be operational by late 2015[6][7] with a total of 68 aircraft to be procured. However, in April 2013, the Navy announced that production has shifted from FY14 to FY15 due to additional testing requirements and technical issues related to the aircraft's double-tail vertical stabilizer and rudder, and software integration for maritime sensors.[8] According to the latest information available from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the MQ-4C UAS is now planned for 2017.[4] Role Surveillance UAV National origin United States Manufacturer Northrop Grumman First flight 22 May 2013 Status Testing Primary user United States Navy Number built 68 (planned) + 2 prototypes[1] Program cost US$13,240.9m (as of FY13) Unit cost US$137.907m (FY13)[1] US$189.156m (inc R&D;)[1] Developed from Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk General characteristics Crew: Aircraft is unmanned; 4 personnel required per ground station Length: 47.6 ft in (14.5 m) Wingspan: 130.9 ft in (39.9 m) Height: 15.3 ft in (4.6 m) Gross weight: 32,250 lb (14,630 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan, 6,495-8,917 lbf (28.9-39.7 kN) Performance Maximum speed: 357 mph (575 km/h) Endurance: 24 hours Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m) International Sales[edit] Australia Australia has considered the MQ-4, both as a military platform and as customs enforcement platform; senior customs officials have doubted the effectiveness of the planned seven MQ-4C to detect small boats in the country's northern waters, especially through cloud cover.[28] In 2013, Air Marshall Geoff Brown, head of the Royal Australian Air Force, stated that Australia was considering purchasing more manned P-8 Poseidon aircraft and reducing the number of MQ-4Cs planned to be bought for the RAAF.[29] On 16 February 2014, it was reported that the Australian government would seek the purchase of seven MQ-4C Tritons; in addition to locating ships and aircraft, it would also be used to detect seaborne asylum seekers. Alongside the P-8, the MQ-4 is to replace the elderly P-3 Orion fleet.[30] On 13 March 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Australia's intention to buy the MQ-4C Triton and become its first foreign customer. The announcement was made at RAAF Base Edinburgh, the base of the country's fleet of 18 AP-3C Orion aircraft it will replace. The Triton buy is part of the Australian Defense Forces' Project Air 7000 two-phase Orion replacement program; Phase 1B entails procuring the Triton UAS, and Phase 2B is the acquisition of 8-12 manned P-8A Poseidons in 2017. RAAF Tritons and Poseidons will be used in a similar complementary fashion as with U.S. Navy operation, where the MQ-4C performs high-altitude broad area surveillance missions, allowing the P-8A to be more dedicated to anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, search and rescue response, and electronic intelligence missions. The exact number and introduction date for Australian Triton airframes will be revealed in a new government Defence White Paper in early 2015, but numbers are believed to be between six and eight aircraft with introduction around 2020. The deal can be affected by its U.S. Navy development completion.[31] Development[edit] Key Features[edit] Provides persistent maritime ISR 24 hours/7 days per week with 80% Effective Time on Station (ETOS) AN/ZPY-3 Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) with active electronically scanned array Land-based air vehicle and sensor command and control 51,000-hour airframe life Due regard radar for safe separation