Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall is holding off on approving low-rate production of the Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned surveillance plane until “several items” are addressed, according to a Department of Defense spokesman.
The undisclosed items surfaced during a Defense Acquisition Board review of the program Aug. 22, the DoD spokesman said Sept. 13. Kendall “has indicated his willingness” to approve low-rate production once the items are “satisfactorily addressed,” the spokesman added.
The production decision, also known as Milestone C, was previously planned for the spring but was delayed “to allow additional time to complete procurement planning, funding profiles and contract negotiations,” the Navy said in July.
Northrop Grumman [NOC] is the prime contractor for the Triton, a variant of the high-altitude, long-endurance Global Hawk flown by the Air Force. The company announced in February that the Triton had successfully completed an operational assessment that could pave the way for a Milestone C decision.