Royal Australian Air Force MQ-4C Triton Delivered

Australia's first MQ-4C Triton, serial A57-001, arrived at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory in the early hours of 16 June 2024 following a trans-Pacific flight from California. The high-altitude long-endurance maritime surveillance aircraft is operated by No. 9 Squadron, flying from Tindal while controlled from RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. Maintenance is carried out by Northrop Grumman Australia and L3Harris Australia under an interim sustainment contract. The arrival came nearly two decades after Australia joined the US Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance programme; the acquisition had been scoped down from up to seven aircraft.