The Australian Ministry of Defense announced on Sept. 19 it plans to spend $975 million to acquire a fourth Northrop Grumman [NOC] MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle and also upgrade its fleet of P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The first Triton Australia previously ordered is due to be delivered next year.
The Australia minister for defense industry said the procurement of another Triton will improve operations based out of Australia’s northern bases.
“The purchase of an additional Triton will enhance operations from Australia’s northern bases, a priority under the Defence Strategic Review. The upgrades to the fleet of Poseidon aircraft strengthens our ability to secure and protect Australia’s maritime interests,” Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in a statement.
The MQ-4C will be used to supplement the fleet on P-8As by providing long-range persistent surveillance in Australia’s maritime region.
Once in service, the new Triton will be based at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Tindal, Northern Territory. The aircraft will be operated by the Australian Air Force’s newly reformed 9 Squadron, which is at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia.
The Defense Ministry is also upgrading its crewed fleet of 14 P-8A Poseidon aircraft to improve their anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike and intelligence collection abilities.
The government said it expects the first Poseideons to enter the upgrade program in 2026 and the final aircraft will be upgraded by 2030.
The Australian defense ministry also said the government is working with Boeing’s Defence Australia business unit on options to install upgrades to the P-8As domestically to increase Australian industry opportunities.
The U.S. Navy specified the P-8As will be upgraded to the latest capability upgrade available, Increment Three Block Two.
Australia’s P-8A force reached initial operating capability in early 2018. The U.S. Navy said this upgrade will ensure the aircraft’s “operational effectiveness into the 2030s.”
The government also said it has signed a $220 million Interim Sustainment Support Contract with Northrop Grumman to “establish a strong maintenance workforce at RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Edinburgh for the fleet of Triton aircraft.”
The Defense Ministry argued that over the platforms’ lifetimes the P-8As and MQ-4Cs will ultimately contribute over $910 million in acquisition and at least $3.9 billion in sustainment to Australian industry.