Tensions with China: US got Super Eyes in the Air as First Upgraded B8 Triton MQ-4C HAL UAV Deployed

Northrop Grumman has delivered the first MQ-4C drone with the Integrated Functional Capability or IFC-4 to the United States Navy. Known as B8, this is the first production Triton to be upgraded to the multi-intelligence configuration to meet the Navy’s critical maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting needs of U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy conducted its first test flight of the MQ-4C Triton in its upgraded hardware and software configuration, known as Integrated Functional Capability IFC-4 in July last year at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. IFC-4 brings an enhanced multi-mission sensor capability as part of the Navy’s Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting transition plan. The MQ-4C Triton conducts intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions that pair with the P-8A Poseidon and it brings increased persistence, capability, and capacity through its multi-sensor mission payload. Based on the Global Hawk UAS, Triton’s autonomous operations a