Northrop Grumman Corp. and Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division, a subsidiary of Triumph Group, Inc., have successfully demonstrated the structural strength of the US Navy’s Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) wing. This is a key capability that will allow the aircraft to descend from high altitudes to make positive identification of targets of interest during surveillance missions.

A team of engineers found that no failures or unacceptable deformations of the wing occurred when it was subjected to a load at 22 per cent above the Navy’s requirement.

“During surveillance missions using Triton, Navy operators may spot a target of interest and order the aircraft to a lower altitude to make positive identification,” said Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman’s Triton UAS Program Director.