Australia would like some influence over the development of the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime unmanned aerial system, according to a report in Defense News.
Speaking at the Australian International Airshow in Victoria, Australia, Group Capt. Guy Adams said that experience gained through ongoing cooperation with the US Navy on the Boeing P-8A Poseidon program has driven a similar requirement for Triton. Adams is director of unmanned aerial systems for the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), Australia's military procurement agency,
Australia worked on the Triton from 2006 to 2009, but that agreement lapsed. Now the country's government wants to get involved again, following a 2014 announcement that the government plans to acquire up to seven of the UAVs for the Royal Australian Air Force.
"The RAAF will buy the integrated functional level capability level four Triton, which will be the US Navy standard production version at that time and we are looking at entering into a co-operative development program with the US Navy, so Australia may have the ability to influence the future design and development of the program as it develops," Adams said.
