Navy unmanned vehicle squadrons

[Ripcord]

Looks like this might be a fun project.

https://news.usni.org/2016/10/25/navys- ... -this-week

We already have a RQ-4 package, featuring the Global Hawk, do we not? It would seem to me that the two models are similar enough, in appearance, that we could use that same model and just do repaints for the Navy units.

I also read that they just recently announced some Navy UAV units will be 'homeported' at Mayport. Not sure if this will be the same unit that stood up at NAS Jax in October or if this will be another unit.

[Ripcord]

Ah, OK, this article below explains it better -- the operational concepts of the 'Chair Force' and it's new Naval equivalent are still pretty foreign to me.

http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.co ... 4c-triton/


Triton UAS uses a “remote split” operational concept, where mission crews are located at a Main Operating Base (MOB), while air vehicles and maintenance personnel are located at a FOB. The East Coast Triton UAS squadron (VUP-19) MOB is based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville.

As the east coast FOB, Mayport will be the launch and recovery site for four forward-based MQ-4C Triton UAS aircraft and consolidated maintenance hub for up to four additional aircraft.

[hawk_sh]

There are three MQ-4C Tritons included in the Patuxent River update package.

[Ripcord]

I wondered about that -- wow, so this is an easy one to do at some point, once we get some idea what the numbers/markings will be.