RAAF declares two advanced spy planes combat-ready
The MC-55A Peregrine and uncrewed MQ-4C Triton are now ready for Australian military missions.
The Royal Australian Air Force has announced that two advanced reconnaissance aircraft are now combat-ready. Defence Minister Richard Marles and Air Marshal Stephen Chappell declared operational readiness for the MC-55A Peregrine.
The uncrewed Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton was also declared ready. The MC-55A comes from a corporate jet.
It gathers electronic intelligence on enemy radar and communications systems. The MC-55A shares its data in real time with allied aircraft.
This helps identify and track threats. Three Peregrine aircraft are based at Edinburgh near Adelaide.
They serve with No. 10 Squadron. The MQ-4C Triton is a large uncrewed aircraft.
It is about the size of a Boeing 737. It conducts maritime surveillance and has similar signals intelligence capability.
Three Triton aircraft are in service. Operations and pilots are based at Edinburgh.
The aircraft are stationed at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.
- Edinburgh near Adelaide
- Peregrine aircraft based
- 3
- Peregrine aircraft in service
- 3
- Triton aircraft in service
- RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory
- Triton based
Why it mattersThe aircraft give Australia and its allies early warning of threats across the Indo-Pacific. They provide real-time intelligence to protect troops.
AustraliaAustralia now operates two world-class intelligence systems that strengthen its defence capabilities in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific region.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 d ago
