In a jointly funded technology demonstration, Northrop Grumman and Boeing have demonstrated enhanced interoperability between the unmanned MQ-4C Triton and the manned P-8A Poseidon.
“MQ-4C Triton and P-8A are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance force, delivering complementary capabilities unmatched by any other platforms. This demonstration underscores the flexibility of our systems, our unwavering industry investment and the strength of our industry relationships. Our commitment to pushing the boundaries of advanced technology ensures that the U.S. and allied nations operators maintain an unparalleled edge against evolving maritime threats," Northrop Grumman, vice president and general manager, global surveillance division, Jane Bishop, stated.
In a first, according to the companies, the ability for the two systems to collaborate and automate mission control over open systems architecture was shown.
“This Poseidon-Triton teaming demonstration unlocks real-world capability and interoperability for the U.S. and allies. We’re investing so that current and future global P-8A operators can expand the scope and effectiveness of their missions with low risk, evolutionary enhancements on the most advanced maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft already in service," Boeing P-8 Program, vice president, Tory Peterson, indicated.
The lab demonstration featured MQ-4C Triton and P-8A Poseidon exchanging maritime intelligence through a standardised interface that enables machine-to-machine mission planning and execution across platforms.
In the exchange, Triton’s system used AI algorithms to collect, process and share intelligence data with P-8A Poseidon in response to a request sent by the P-8A Poseidon system.
Using this standardised interface, Triton can collaborate with other US or allied assets sharing the same interface, according to Northrop Grumman.
The Universal Command and Control Interface is a machine-to-machine collaboration standard based on Open Mission Systems and Autonomy - Government Reference Architecture.
Triton was built for the US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California facility. The capability supports a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, signals intelligence and search and rescue.