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6h ago

Navy Confirms Loss of MQ-4C Triton Drone, Classifies It as a Class A Mishap

The Navy withheld the location and cause to protect operations.

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A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 takes off from the flightline at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 5, 2022. (Image credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Getz)
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Overview

  • An MQ-4C Triton crashed on April 9, according to a Naval Safety Command entry that notes no injuries.
  • Before the track ended, public data showed the drone broadcasting an emergency code 7700 and dropping from about 50,000 feet to under 10,000 feet.
  • The aircraft was last seen over the Persian Gulf heading toward Iran, yet officials have not disclosed where it went down and have given no cause.
  • The Navy labeled the event a Class A mishap, which covers incidents causing very high damage, and each Triton is valued at roughly $240 million.
  • Another Triton sortie appeared on trackers after the crash, suggesting surveillance continues, while any recovered wreckage could expose sensitive sensors and tactics.