A single Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engine powers the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, unmanned aircraft built by a Northrop Grumman-lead team.The AE 3007 provides the fuel efficiency required as well as the electrical power necessary for the tasks. The Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engine also powers the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk, another high-altitude, unmanned aircraft, as well as various corporate and regional jets. The AE 3007’s reliability and efficiency have been demonstrated in military and commercial service, with the engine line recently topping 50 million flight hours.
“Triton is the most advanced ISR unmanned aircraft system ever designed for use across vast ocean areas and coastal regions. Through a cooperative effort with the Navy and our industry partners we successfully demonstrated the flight control systems that allow Triton to operate autonomously. We couldn’t be prouder of the entire team for this achievement,” says Mike Mackey, Northrop Grumman’s Deputy Programme Director for Triton.
In addition to Rolls-Royce, Northrop Grumman’s Triton industry team includes Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE Systems, Curtis-Wright Corp., L3 Communications, Raytheon, Sierra Nevada Corporation and Vought Aircraft Industries.
Source: Avionics Intelligence