Illustrative image. (U.S. Navy)
An MQ-4C Triton drone of the United States Navy declared an in-flight emergency over the Persian Gulf before rapidly losing altitude on April 9, according to open-source flight tracking data.
The drone, serial 169804, was tracked on Flightradar24 and other aviation websites emitting a 7700 squawk, the standard code for a general emergency.
Tracking data indicates that the drone dropped from around 52,000 feet to roughly 12,750 feet within minutes while operating north of Bahrain.
The drone was flying a typical high-altitude surveillance mission over the Strait of Hormuz before the sudden descent on its way back. It remains unclear whether what was observed reflects a loss of the drone or simply a loss of tracking data for some technical reason.
Click to see full-size image. (Flightradar24)
The Triton was developed by Northrop Grumman to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over vast ocean and coastal regions, continuous maritime surveillance, conduct search and rescue missions, and to complement the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The drone has a service ceiling of 56,000 feet, and an endurance of 30 hours, with an operation range over 15,000 kilometers.
A single Triton could cost anywhere from just under $200 million, to over $600 million, making it one of the most expensive drones in service with the U.S. Navy.
The incident came just a day after the United States and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire. Washington said that the agreement will help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which closed shortly after the start of the war on the Islamic Republic more than a month ago. Meanwhile, Tehran, from its side, warned that it won’t tolerate drone flights over its terrorists during the ceasefire.
It’s worth noting that in 2019, Iran shot down a BAMS-D drone over the Strait of Hormuz. The drone is a prototype version of the RQ-4A that was manufactured by Northrop Grumman as a part of the Triton development program.
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soon…nuclear armed drones will be “crashing” in tehran!
i think yur transmoms arse was crashed with too many dildos…..
slaves must post for their masters. indoctrination works !
the kike infestation will soon be purged with a few megatons.
i will purge my colon down your throat!
joo’s are ignorant of human biology. oy vey.
the joo filth will be cleansed from occupied palestine.
seig heil! israels final solution.
uses a balance cable?
everything built by the us military industrial complex costs several million dollars. they’ll produce a paper map with a little plastic light, and charge the gullible american people a million dollars…
if we don’t get to spend it on the jews weapons we get to spend it on african migrants, so who cares, its all just a waste. 30% of every paycheck right down the crapper.
another flying turd goes down. buy our shit products!!!
it was not even necessary to shoot this flying trash collection down! :)
drone got covid made by saint fauci and bill hates
the war racket will demand military budget increases, american slaves foot the bill.
flight over its territory, not over its terrorists.
us weapons may cost that much, but they’re not worth that much.
the loss of all these several million dollar aircraft is good news for the usmic. they will ensure via congress that all these aircraft are replaced even if that means american’s have to live in poverty just a while longer. warmongers in congress are passing conscription on its citizens so i guess poverty will be the least of their worries. it’s as if nuremberg never happened.
oligarch russias whole accountant attitude is misapplied. the independent jewish federal reserve bank creates that currency out of thin air and will “borrow” it to the us government in infinite supply. the only way the american government runs out of jew script is if america ceases to exist.
the us needs a reminder to do as it is told.