Northrop, Navy Complete 9 Triton Flights

Photo courtesy Northrop Grumman Corp.

By Danielle Lucey



Today, Northrop Grumman announced that, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, it has completed nine initial flight tests of its unmanned Triton platform at the company’s manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif. 



The tests were part of the aircraft’s envelope expansion tests, where the test team looked at the aircraft’s ability to operate at different, altitudes, speeds and weights. 



"Completion of envelope expansion will allow the test team to prepare for installation and further testing of Triton's surveillance sensors," says Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman's Triton program director.



So far the aircraft has performed flights up to 9.4 hours long at up to 50,000 feet in altitude. 



The aircraft’s first test flight occurred in May, and the Navy plans to field 68 Tritons for surveillance missions once tests are complete.