Australia Deploys Unmanned TRITON Patrol a/c:

It is our coldest period here in NZ - for the next month or so .. The low temperature seems to be pushing our local Harrier Hawks into riskier behavior while scavenging road kills. Beautiful birds eh.

Our Trans-Tasman neighbors have announced their purchase (costing a total AU$6.9 Billion) of six long-range unmanned patrol drone aircraft.

Quoted costs include a Main Operating Base, MOB - and a Forward Operating Base FOB - plus spares etc.

The Northrup Grumman TRITON MQ-4C aircraft will work in close co-operation with the US Navy who plan a fleet of 68+ of these patrol aircraft.

The MQ-4C TRITON is known to be able to stay air-born for 30 hours at speeds up to 610 kph.

.. A New Zealand gender-neutral spokesperson said: "We've bought a big powerful drone from  BunningsWarehouse and plan to hold joint exercises as soon as the batteries are charged." 

Marty K.