June 25, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Canberra, Australia – June 19, 2020 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announces the Australian government's decision to provide funding for an additional three of their planned six MQ-4C Tritons and associated ground mission control stations.
The MQ-4C Triton is a cooperative development program between the Royal Australian Air Force and the U.S. Navy, and provides a round-the-clock maritime wide-area intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. Operating at altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet, Triton can cover more than 2 million square miles of ocean and littorals in a single flight, bringing unprecedented awareness to operational commanders' common operating pictures.
“As a strategic partner in the cooperative development program, Australia is a critical part of Triton's development and production,” said Doug Shaffer, vice president, Triton programs, Northrop Grumman. “This game-changing system will boost Australia's ISR capability and enable them to meet their surveillance needs to manage the world's third largest exclusive economic zone.”
In addition to the aircraft, Australia has also committed funds for the main operating base at RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia and a forward operating base at RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory. The main operating base allows for a permanent control station while the forward operating base enables deployment of the Triton system to support Australian national security requirements. The U.S. Navy – with a program of record for 68 aircraft – is planning five operational Triton orbits around the globe. Australia, as one of the United States' key allies and a strategic partner in the Pacific, would be able to provide a sixth.
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.
View source version on Northrop Grumman: https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/australia-commits-to-one-additional-triton
December 4, 2023 | International, Land
Opinion: U.S. leaders must craft an integrated approach to airpower in the Indo-Pacific that accounts for an inherently unfavorable geography.
February 9, 2021 | International, C4ISR
PARIS — France is to acquire its first joint tactical signals intelligence system from Thales and Airbus, the DGA procurement agency announced Feb. 8. The €160 million (U.S. $193 million) contract was signed with the two companies Dec. 31, 2020, according to a DGA statement. Early capabilities of the new system will be delivered in 2023 and full capabilities by 2025. The system will consist of a series of combinable sensors adapted to the needs of a given theater of operation and whatever environment — land, naval or air — in which it is to be operated. Signals intelligence involves using an adversary's signals — either communication (such as radio) or electronic (such as radar) — to gather data. “This information is necessary to safeguard the forces engaged, to determine the enemy's intention and to be able to independently assess the situation. It contributes to the freedom of action of forces in a theater of operations,” the DGA said in a statement. The French armed forces' current tactical sigint capabilities were developed to meet the specific needs of each service. The purpose of the joint system is to provide the three services with a homogeneous system, using as many common bricks as possible to guarantee operational continuity and joint use of the information collected. The new system will modernize and complete the current tactical sigint capabilities, taking into consideration new communications technologies used by adversaries — whether these are detecting emissions, characterizing and localizing transmitters, or intercepting communications on different frequency ranges — according to the procurement agency. In the Army, the new capability will be used by the 54th Signal Regiment on Scorpion vehicles. It will also equip the Navy's capital ships and the Atlantic 2 maritime patrol aircraft, replacing and complementing the current systems. Members of the Air and Space Force will use the system as deployable ground equipment to protect air bases. https://www.c4isrnet.com/global/europe/2021/02/08/french-military-orders-first-sigint-suite-to-work-across-all-services/
March 27, 2020 | International, Land
March 24, 2020 The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a $339 million contract modification for the production of 48 vehicle sets of M109A7 Self-propelled Howitzer (SPH) and its companion, the M992A3 Carrier, Ammunition, Tracked (CAT) vehicle, and includes post-delivery support and spare parts. The M109A7 SPH and M992A3 CAT vehicle set is a vital program enhancement for increased combat capability and sustainment of the Army's Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs). The program offers enhanced indirect-fire artillery capabilities to the ABCTs with new technologies for power generation and survivability. The new M109A7 addresses long-term readiness and modernization needs of the M109 self-propelled howitzer family through a critical redesign and production plan that leverages today's most advanced technology. Its state-of-the-art “digital backbone” and power generation capability provides a more robust, survivable, and responsive indirect fire support capability for ABCT Soldiers. The M109A7 is a significant upgrade over the M109A6 as it enhances reliability, maintainability, performance, responsiveness, lethality, and crew survivability. The initial contract was awarded in 2017 for low-rate production. This most recent order brings the total number of M109A7 and M992A3 vehicle sets to 204, with a total contract value of $1.5 billion. The award follows the Army's decision, announced in February, to commence full-rate production of the vehicle. View source version on BAE Systems: https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/u-s--army-awards--339-million-contract-for-m109a7-self-propelled-howitzers-and-m992a3-carrier--ammunition--tracked-vehicles