US starts Triton operational testing

The US military has started operational testing of the Northrop Grumman Triton long-range surveillance drone in a key step to service with the US Navy and then Australia.

Over the next two months, Triton will conduct a series of flights and test scenarios to assess its ability to detect, identify, classify and track contacts during both day and night operations.

Defence plans to replace the RAAF's ageing Orion aircraft with an unspecified number of Tritons plus manned Poseidon aircraft to conduct maritime surveillance patrols over the vast area of ocean around Australia.

The MQ-4C Triton is a large unmanned aircraft with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 737, able to fly at 16,750 metres or higher for more than 30 hours.

It observes with radar and camera systems, beaming imagery back to ground stations in real time.

Australia's interest in this capability dates back to the 1990s.

Triton's predecessor, the Global Hawk, made its first flight in 1998. In 2001, a Global Hawk flew non-stop from California to Australia.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott gave the go-ahead for acquisition of Triton in March 2014, subject to successful completion of the US Navy's development program.

The upcoming Defence white paper will spell out just how many will be acquired and when.