U.S. Navy Stands-Up VUP-19, the First MQ-4C Triton UAS Operational Squadron at NAS Jacksonville

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Naval Forces News - USA
 
 
 
U.S. Navy Stands-Up VUP-19, the First MQ-4C Triton UAS Operational Squadron at NAS Jacksonville
 
The U.S. Navy stood-up Unmanned Patrol Squadron VUP-19, the first ever unmanned-only squadron, on 28 October 2016 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida. By the end of next year, VUP-19 will receive its first Northrop Grumman-built MQ-4C Triton unmanned air systems (UAS). VUP-19 role will be training as well as developing new tactics, especially alongside the P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). NAS Jacksonville is the base of several Patrol Squadrons deploying the P-8A and the older P-3 Orion MPAs.
     
MQ 4C Triton UAS US NavyThe U.S. Navy's MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (U.S. Navy photo)
     
The MQ-4C Triton will be a forward- deployed, land-based, autonomously operated system that provides persistent ISR within a range of 2,000 nautical miles using a multi-sensor mission payload including maritime radar, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Automatic Identification System (AIS) and basic communications relay.

The U.S. Navy plans to order a total of 68 aircraft from Northrop Grumman, with the goal of having the first aircraft operational by 2017. The MQ-4C Triton will be a forward deployed, land-based, autonomously operated system that provides a persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability using a multi-sensor mission payload.

Link to MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system technical datasheet