Triton Troubles

InsideDefense.com is reporting today that the Navy has formally advised Congress that the Northrop Grumman-led MQ-4C Triton program -- a $26.8 billion effort to develop, field and fly a naval variant of the high-flying Global Hawk unmanned aircraft -- will exceed research and development cost targets and miss key acquisition milestone dates set by the service in 2008:

The issues are detailed in a 33-page Selected Acquisition Report dated December 2012 and delivered to Congress in May. "These cost and schedule breaches are based on delays due to technical challenges associated with system integration and developmental testing, which delayed entry into flight test," the report states. As a result, the Navy is preparing a revised acquisition baseline program to reflect new schedule and cost goals, the report states.

The Navy wants to buy a total of 70 MQ-4C aircraft, including the five developmental systems, and plans to spend $3.5 billion on development; $11.3 billion on procurement; and $11.6 billion to operate and sustain the systems through 2039, bringing the estimated cradle-to-grave cost for the capability to $26.8 billion.

The projected research and development costs for the MQ-4C program have grown to $3.5 billion, $335.5 million more than the Navy's original $3.2 billion target -- an increase of 10 percent, according to the report.

In related news, Inside the Navy reports this week that Northrop Grumman is working with the Navy on options for a sense-and-avoid radar on the Triton after the service issued a stop-work order on the radar due to technical challenges and cost growth, according to the company and the service:

On April 25, the Navy issued a stop-work order for Triton's air-to-air radar subsystem, which is made by ITT Exelis. The service is assessing the status of the effort and evaluating alternatives for meeting program requirements, Navy spokeswoman LaToya Graddy wrote in an Aug. 21 email.

"The Navy is working with Northrop Grumman Corp. to review all options that could potentially be leveraged to fulfill this requirement," she added.

ITT Exelis remains committed to developing a leading-edge sense-and-avoid system for unmanned aerial vehicles to help make the skies safer for all aircraft, company spokeswoman Courtney Reynolds wrote in an Aug. 20 email.

For more of our recent Triton coverage, see below:

After First Flight, MQ-4C Triton Slated For First Deployment In 2016
Inside the Navy - 05/27/2013

Official: Germany Seeking Insights On Navy's Triton UAS For Euro Hawk
Inside the Navy - 05/27/2013

MQ-4C Triton Completes First Flight At Palmdale
DefenseAlert - 05/22/2013