Latest news with #MQ-4CTriton
Libyan Express
23-05-2025
- General
- Libyan Express
NATO drone conducts ‘unusual' patrol off Libyan coast
BY Libyan Express May 23, 2025 - 06:37 The NATO owned and operated RQ-4D Phoenix is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Photo: Northrop Grumman A NATO surveillance drone carried out an extended reconnaissance mission off Libya's coast after experiencing communication problems during a flight towards the Black Sea, according to Italian aviation monitoring website ItamilRadar. The Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix drone took off from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily on Thursday morning, initially bound for the Black Sea region. The mission marked the first appearance of this type of aircraft on radar systems for several months, the website reported. After entering Greek airspace, the drone began flying in circular patterns, which ItamilRadar suggested could indicate technical difficulties. Despite the apparent malfunction, the aircraft continued towards its original destination. The drone subsequently transmitted an emergency '7600' squawk code whilst over the Black Sea, signalling a loss of radio communication with ground control. This prompted mission controllers to abort the operation and order the aircraft's return to Sicily. However, during the return flight over the Mediterranean, the communication issues appeared to be resolved. The drone then diverted southward and began conducting surveillance operations along the Libyan coastline instead. ItamilRadar noted that the NATO mission coincided with a separate, extended operation by a US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone over Libya. The website described the simultaneous missions as 'particularly interesting', though it provided no further details about potential co-ordination between the operations. The incident highlights the complex nature of international surveillance operations in the Mediterranean region, where NATO and US forces regularly conduct reconnaissance missions to monitor regional security developments. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
China unleashes world's first 16-barrel gun to rain hellfire on enemy missiles, drones
To improve its anti-drone warfare and neutralize low-flying rockets, missiles, and helicopters, China has developed a new weapon system that equips a 16-barrel gun. According to China's state-run Global Times, the first-of-its-kind weapon system can also effectively counter drone swarms. This new air defense system is known as the anti-drone swarm and anti-missile barrage weapon system. Yu Bin, the system's chief designer, spoke in an interview that Global Times reported about the weapon's firing mechanism. He said the weapon shoots a "barrage," identical to firing a wall of ammunition. The barrage can cover all incoming target positions, effectively intercepting them by moving from a broad area to a precise point. Yu said that conventional air defense guns use the concept of "point to point" interception, whereas the new system uses the concept of "plane to point." The new concept follows an architecture where multiple air defense guns fire together to raise fire density and probability of interception. The new weapon is a close-in air defense barrage system equipped with a 16-barrel gun to fire 'unique munitions.' Yu added that this kind of system is not available globally, and it is the world's first system to intercept aerial threats such as drone swarms. Global Times reported that the system has a fast reload speed, high fire density, controllable barrage size, outstanding destructive power, and capability to accompany troops in maneuvers. Current air defense weapons struggle to handle drone swarms effectively. They often can't manage saturation attacks and are not cost-effective. However, the new barrage weapon system addresses these issues, according to Yu. This system has successfully demonstrated its ability to shoot down all small drones with a single barrage. It can also intercept fast air-launched weapons like missiles. In addition, it can counter rockets, mortars, and howitzer shells. Yu added that while the primary targets for this system are aerial threats like drone swarms, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles, it can also target ground or water surface targets when needed. The chief designer mentioned that the system is modular and can be installed on trucks, armored vehicles, or warships. Fu Qianshao, a military expert, told Global Times that this new weapon will be effective and cost-efficient against drone swarms and missiles. The barrage weapon is appealing for both domestic users and international markets as threats from drones continue to grow, Fu said. The US and Taiwan are working together to fill the Taiwan Strait with tens of thousands of drones. Along the Taiwan Strait, the US has already started deploying its long-range drones, such as the MQ-4C Triton. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense has ordered 3,500 domestically produced drones to counter China. In addition, Taiwan has plans to set up a large unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing facility in Chiayi County to help establish its drone supply chain. Taiwan's new defense plan highlights the important role of drones in various military operations. In the initial defense phase, Taiwan plans to use larger drones, like the MQ-9B and Teng Yun, for ongoing surveillance. These drones will provide early warnings and support command and control in challenging environments. During the next phase, focusing on gaining control over coastal areas, the island plans to use smaller drones, such as the Albatross and Chien-Hsiang, for electronic warfare and to turn off coastal sensors. Finally, in the phase where they secure beach landings, Taiwan will deploy less expensive and easily replaceable drones like the ALTIUS 600M-V and Capricorn. These drones will conduct precise attacks on enemy forces and provide real-time targeting information to ground troops. In light of this, China is investing significantly in developing new anti-drone systems, including the recently unveiled anti-drone swarm and anti-missile barrage weapon system.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
US to send long-range surveillance drones to Japan amid tensions in Taiwan
The US is sending several long-range surveillance drones to Japan 's Okinawa prefecture near Taiwan for monitoring China 's increasing drone activities in the region. Japan's defence minister Gen Nakatani said the US MQ-4C Triton drones will be sent for indefinite deployment to the US air base on Okinawa's main island Kadena in the coming weeks. The Trump administration is sending drones to Japan, one of the closest territories the US can work with in the event of a military invasion of Taiwan by China, to boost intelligence gathering, the Japanese defence minister said. 'This deployment is expected to enhance the Japan-US alliance's intelligence-gathering capabilities and, by extension, the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities,' Mr Nakatani said, addressing a press conference. Officials at the Okinawa Defence Bureau said that the US military is seeking deployment of Triton drones to Kadena island to expand its surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence activities near Japan. According to the US Air Force, Kadena's 'strategic position makes it an invaluable location to stage Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, enabling access to numerous potential flashpoints across the Indo-Pacific region'. The Triton drones are likely to be utilised for short periods at US military bases in Yokota, western Tokyo, and Misawa, Aomori prefecture, the defence bureau officials said, reported Japanese daily The Asahi Shimbun. The American high-altitude long endurance Triton drones, which has the same wingspan as a Boeing 737, can operate at altitude above 50,000ft for more than 24 hours with a range of 7,400 nautical miles (13,700km). However, the latest round of US drone deployment has caused unease among the regional Japanese officials who have sought lesser presence of the American military. Denny Tamaki, Okinawa's governor, said the move will go against his regional government's desire to reduce the burden of US military bases concentrated in Okinawa. Diplomatic and territorial tensions have ramped up dramatically between China and Taiwan, and the US by extension, since last week after Beijing staged military drills off Taiwan's north, south and east coasts. China said the drills were a "stern warning" against separatism and called Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te a "parasite" as Taiwan sent warships to respond to China's Navy approaching its shores. China views the self-governed democratic island as its own territory and has not ruled out capturing it by military force. However, the latest round of long-range drones deployment would provide a boost in the wake of increasing Chinese military activity near the southwestern islands, the Japanese defence minister said, adding that the 'security environment surrounding our country is becoming increasingly severe'. China is ramping up pressure on the region by sending drones near Japan's islands and carrying out daily military drills around Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Just last year, China sent at least 30 drones in total around Japan, marking a more than seven times rise since 2021 when it had sent just four drones in the area.
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
US to deploy long-range drones near Taiwan, Japan's defence minister confirms
The US military will deploy long-range surveillance drones in the Japanese region of Okinawa near Taiwan , Tokyo's defence minister has confirmed. Advertisement The MQ-4C Triton drones would boost the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the US-Japan defence alliance, Gen Nakatani said. 'The security environment surrounding our country is becoming increasingly severe,' Nakatani told reporters on Tuesday. He said several Tritons would arrive at the US Kadena Air Base on Okinawa's main island in the coming weeks 'to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance activities around Japan'. Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan in recent years and held military drills that some analysts see as preludes to a possible future takeover of the self-ruled island. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Advertisement Most countries, including the United States , do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Japan Times
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
U.S. to send long-range surveillance drones to Japan amid Taiwan tensions
The U.S. military will deploy several long-range surveillance drones to Okinawa Prefecture, near Japan's far-flung southwestern islands area near Taiwan, as the allies seek to counter China's ramped-up drone presence in the same area. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday that the U.S. MQ-4C Triton drones will be sent to the U.S. air base in Kadena, on Okinawa's main island, in the coming weeks. 'This deployment is expected to enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance's intelligence-gathering capabilities and, by extension, the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities,' Nakatani told a news conference. The Triton drones are capable of operating at altitudes above 50,000 feet, for 24-plus hours with a range of 7,400 nautical miles (13,700 kilometers), according to producer Northrop Grumann. Last year, the U.S. military temporarily deployed two MQ-4Cs at the Kadena base for about five months from May. The U.S. Air Force said in 2023 that 'Kadena's strategic position makes it an invaluable location to stage ISR operations, enabling access to numerous potential flashpoints across the Indo-Pacific region.' The Japanese defense chief hinted that the deployment would provide a needed boost amid the uptick in Chinese military activity near the southwestern islands, noting that 'the security environment surrounding our country is becoming increasingly severe.' As China heaps military pressure on Taiwan, the democratic island it claims as its own — and has vowed to bring back into the fold, by force if necessary — it has also sent its drones closer to Japanese territory. Nakatani said last week that flights by Chinese drones around Japan in fiscal 2024 had totaled 30 — a figure that he said was 'significantly higher than the four drones confirmed in fiscal 2021.' But Nakatani also said that the Chinese military had been sending the drones closer and closer to Japan, with the defense chief noting that the range of this activity 'has also shown a tendency to expand significantly.' Since April 2023, the Defense Ministry said it had confirmed drone flights between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan — which had until then not been seen — as well as flights off the coast of Amami Oshima, in Kagoshima Prefecture.
