Northrop Grumman has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus Defence and Space covering plans to supply NATO with up to five MQ-4C Triton surveillance aircraft, formalising the role of a major European partner in the proposed programme.
The companies signed the agreement during the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara. It follows the 7 July announcement by Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway that they intend to acquire the aircraft for NATO’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force. Neither NATO nor Northrop Grumman has announced a firm aircraft order, acquisition contract or programme value.
NATO has described the proposed acquisition as the procurement of up to five Tritons, while Northrop Grumman continues to refer to a Letter of Intent. The MOU begins establishing the industrial structure needed to deliver and support the fleet.
Northrop Grumman would build the aircraft, with Airbus and other European companies contributing the ground systems and supporting services. NATO said the European work would cover the ground segment, data management, command and control, infrastructure and mission support. Northrop Grumman said it would assess how the complementary capabilities of the two companies could support the aircraft and associated ground systems.
The wider team includes companies already working with NATO’s surveillance force. Northrop Grumman is coordinating with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway, Terma of Denmark, Insta Advance of Finland and Exence of Poland.
The participating companies will draw on industrial relationships developed around NATO’s RQ-4D Phoenix fleet over the past decade. Northrop Grumman said this would provide proven expertise and help meet what it described as a challenging schedule.
“Our collaboration with Alliance members on the expansion of NATO’s ISR Force will bring the most advanced ISR capabilities to the Alliance, bolstering its regional security and enhancing Europe’s defense industrial base,” said Jane Bishop, Northrop Grumman’s vice-president and general manager for global surveillance.
NATO operates five RQ-4D Phoenix aircraft from Sigonella air base in Italy. Acquiring all five Tritons would increase its high-altitude uncrewed surveillance fleet from five aircraft to as many as ten. The Triton is designed for maritime surveillance and would complement the Phoenix fleet. NATO’s RQ-4Ds have also received maritime-mode software designed to improve their ability to detect and track surface vessels.
The MQ-4C is operated by the US Navy, while Australia is introducing the aircraft into Royal Australian Air Force service. It can remain airborne for more than 24 hours at altitudes above 50,000 feet, or approximately 15 kilometres. NATO said its long-range sensors would strengthen early threat detection and surveillance of sea lines of communication, including across the Arctic and High North.
