NATO to add up to five Northrop Grumman Triton drones for maritime surveillance

ANKARA — NATO will add up to five MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicles to its network of aerial sensors, Secretary-General Mark Rutte said during the alliance’s Defence Industry Forum here today.

Built by Northrop Grumman, the MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV specifically designed for maritime surveillance over vast stretches of sea.

According to Rutte, the aircraft will help NATO detect threats early, protect sea lines of communication, and support operations in demanding regions, such as the High North. “These aircraft can fly for long periods at high altitude and cover large areas, including over open water, more efficiently than most other aircraft can,” he said at the event, organized to coincide with the NATO summit this week.

Rutte stressed that intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is a vital capability for the alliance, as it provides the situational awareness needed to make the right decisions and stay ahead of threats. “Today, allies are taking a concrete step to strengthen this capability,” he added.

Rutte said Northrop Grumman will build the Triton aircraft, while European industry will be work on mission support, data systems and infrastructure. “It is genuinely made in NATO and is creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.

The MQ-4C Triton is capable of operating at altitudes above 50,000 feet for 24-plus hours, with a range of 7,400 nautical miles, according to the manufacturer. Current users of the Triton are the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Cem Devrim Yaylali is a Turkey correspondent for Defense News. He is a keen photographer of military ships and has a passion for writing about naval and defense issues. He was born in Paris, France, and resides in Istanbul, Turkey. He is married with one son.

安卡拉——北约秘书长马克·吕特今天在北约国防工业论坛上表示，北约将在其空中传感器网络中增加至多五架MQ-4C“海神”无人机。

MQ-4C“海神”无人机由诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司制造，是一款高空长航时无人机，专门设计用于在广阔海域上进行海上监视。

吕特表示，这些飞机将帮助北约及早发现威胁、保护海上交通线，并支援在高纬度地区等严苛环境下的行动。他在本周与北约峰会同期举行的活动上说：“这些飞机能够在高空长时间飞行，并比大多数其他飞机更高效地覆盖大片区域，包括开阔水域。”

吕特强调，情报、监视和侦察（ISR）是联盟的一项至关重要的能力，因为它能提供做出正确决策和应对威胁所需的态势感知。“今天，盟国正在采取切实措施来加强这项能力，”他补充道。

吕特表示，诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司将负责建造“海神”无人驾驶飞机，而欧洲工业界将负责任务支持、数据系统和基础设施建设。“这架飞机真正意义上是北约制造的，它将在大西洋两岸创造就业机会，”他说道。

据制造商称，MQ-4C“海神”无人机能够在50000英尺以上的高空连续飞行24小时以上，航程达7400海里。目前，“海神”无人机的用户包括美国海军和澳大利亚皇家空军。

杰姆·德夫里姆·亚伊拉利是《防务新闻》驻土耳其记者。他热衷于拍摄军舰，并对海军和国防议题充满热情。他出生于法国巴黎，现居土耳其伊斯坦布尔。他已婚，育有一子。