Two Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicles are seen on the tarmac at a Northrop Grumman test facility in Palmdale, Calif. Triton is undergoing flight testing as an unmanned maritime surveillance vehicle. Photo: U.S. Navy courtesy of Northrop Grumman by Chad Slattery

[Via Satellite 05-21-2015] The United States Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded a 12-month, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with an estimated value of $1.8 million to XTAR for satellite capacity to connect the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). XTAR will supply space segment capacity from its XTAR-LANT North America spot beam.

Northrop Grumman manufactured the Triton UAV under the Navy’s Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems program. The vehicle is designed for real-time intelligence and reconnaissance in a maritime environment, as well as to support search and rescue missions. Triton can leverage X-band and military Ka-band frequencies.

NAVAIR has an irregular testing schedule for Triton, meaning the required volume of bandwidth will vary. The XTAR-LANT satellite’s footprint extends from the United States to South America, Africa and the Middle East. The IDIQ contract includes a one-year option.