The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is an American
high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development for the
United States Navy as a
surveillance aircraft. Developed under the
Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program, the system is intended to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions (ISR) over vast ocean and coastal regions, continuous maritime surveillance, conduct search and rescue missions, and to complement the
Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Triton builds on elements of the
RQ-4 Global Hawk; changes include reinforcements to the air frame and wing, de-icing systems, and lightning protection systems.