Northrop Grumman to procure long-lead items for Triton drone

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. has received a $49 million U.S. Navy contract modification for work relating to the MQ-4C Triton drone program.

The modification covers procurement of long lead components, materials, parts, and associated efforts in support of the program.

Work will be performed in Maryland, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Canada, California, Ohio and New York, along with other U.S. locations. Work is expected to be completed by September 2017.

The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting entity.

The Triton provides real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance over vast ocean and coastal regions.

Based on the Global Hawk drone, Triton will be equipped with a sensor suite that provides 360-degree coverage on all sensors, offering unprecedented domain awareness.

Its reinforced airframe allows for increased internal payload and other features will allow the aircraft to ascend and descend through harsh maritime weather conditions.

Triton can fly more than 24 hours at a time, at altitudes higher than 10 miles in a 8,200 nautical-mile range.

Navy plans call for 68 Triton to eventually be fielded.