Overview
- The Royal Australian Air Force declared Initial Operational Capability for the MQ-4C Triton and the MC-55A Peregrine on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 after extensive operational testing and evaluation.
- Three of four Tritons and three of four Peregrines have been delivered to Australia, with the fourth Peregrine due later in 2026 and the final Triton planned for delivery in 2028.
- Australia completed delivery of its 14 P-8A Poseidon aircraft in May 2026 and has begun Increment 3 Block 2 upgrades with most work scheduled at the new $200 million Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
- The three platform types are intended to operate as a complementary crewed and uncrewed family of systems that provide persistent maritime surveillance, signals collection and airborne electronic‑warfare effects across the Indo‑Pacific.
- The Albanese government has framed the milestones as part of a roughly A$5.5 billion, decade‑long investment to build sovereign sustainment, grow local defence industry and concentrate basing and jobs around RAAF Base Edinburgh.