Early November turned out to be a good time to see new Northrop Grumman Corp. aircraft take to the skies above Palmdale.
On Nov. 9, the aerospace and defense contractor completed the first flight of the MQ-4C Triton drone being built for the Australian military.
“The flight marks a major production milestone as Northrop progresses toward delivery of Australia’s first Triton (this year),” the Falls Church-based company said in a release.
The following day, the maiden flight of the B-21 Raider, an aircraft the company is calling its sixth-generation stealth bomber, took place.
“Air Force leaders did not publicize the B-21’s first flight, but about three dozen aviation enthusiasts and amateur photographers gathered around Plant 42 on Friday hoping to see the bomber take to the skies, according to the Reuters witness,” the wire service reported.
The first flight of the Triton unmanned aircraft lasted just more than six hours. Airworthiness evaluations, such as engine, flight control and fuel system checks, and basic aircraft handling tests were conducted, Northrop officials said.
Air Marshal Robert Chipman, chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, said that Triton expands the country’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities by providing reliable real-time intelligence and situational awareness.
“Persistent surveillance enables better planning, greatly enhancing joint military responses and operations,” Chipman said in a statement.
Christine Zeitz, chief executive and general manager of Australia and New Zealand at Northrop, said the company is leveraging its deep expertise in uncrewed high-altitude long-endurance aircraft “to enable Australia to establish a superior long range maritime surveillance capability to monitor and protect (its) maritime interests 24/7.”
Northrop is building four of the Tritons for the Australian military in Palmdale.
“With all four Australian Tritons currently under contract progressing as planned through their production schedules, the systems will have a vital role to play with sensors and communication nodes that can facilitate the transfer of data across warfighting domains and various mission needs,” Northrop said.
The maiden flight of the B-21 Raider was a bit more of a surprise. The aircraft was unveiled to the public last December.
Six test aircraft are now being produced. They are being built on the same line, using the tools, processes and technicians that will build the production aircraft, according to the Reuters story from Nov. 10, the day the plane took to the air the first time.
The Antelope Valley factory is where Northrop produces the center fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II, built by Lockheed Martin.