Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Navy Shifts MQ-4C Tritons to East Coast, Adds Functionality
The service is adding mission systems for the new maritime surveillance aircraft.
MQ-4C Triton SDTA 1 is housed in a purpose-built hangar at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (Photo: Bill Carey)
MQ-4C Triton SDTA 1 is housed in a purpose-built hangar at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (Photo: Bill Carey)

The U.S. Navy is shifting its developmental fleet of unmanned MQ-4C Tritons across the country to introduce mission systems and continue flight-testing the new maritime surveillance aircraft. The first of three Triton system development test articles (SDTA) arrived recently at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.; the other two will follow by the end of October.