Second Australian company picked as Triton parts supplier

140918-N-UZ648-008 NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (Sept. 18, 2014) The MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system completes its inaugural cross-country ferry flight at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Triton took off from the Northrop Grumman Palmdale, Calif. facility Sept. 17. (U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt/Released)

Northrop Grumman Corporation has selected a second Australian company to supply parts for the MQ-4C Triton, which is being purchased by both the U.S. Navy and Australia.

Mincham Aviation will manufacture aircraft structure components for the first low-rate production lot of four Triton air vehicles, according to a Northrop Grumman news release. The first Australian supplier, Ferra engineering, was selected in July to make mechanical sub-assemblies.

“Australian companies have also received requests from Northrop Grumman for quotations to provide components for follow-on low rate production lots,” Northrop Grumman said. “These industry opportunities include cables, complex machined and composite assemblies, as well as special tooling and test equipment.”