NATO will expand its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability with the planned acquisition of up to five Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft.
The announcement was made during the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, where Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway confirmed they will jointly procure the aircraft for the alliance's ISR force.
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The MQ-4C Tritons will complement NATO's existing Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) fleet, which operates five RQ-4D Phoenix drones from Sigonella Air Base in Italy.
Unlike the RQ-4D, which was developed primarily for overland surveillance, the MQ-4C Triton was designed for maritime patrol. The aircraft can remain airborne for about 24 hours at altitudes above 15,000 meters (50,000 ft) and carries long-range sensors for monitoring large sea areas.
NATO said the additional capability will improve surveillance of sea lines of communication and support operations in regions such as the Arctic and the High North, where allied military activity has increased since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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The alliance also confirmed that a transatlantic industrial team will support the program. Northrop Grumman will manufacture the aircraft, while Airbus Defence and Space and other European companies will provide the ground infrastructure, command-and-control systems, data management and mission support.
