Don't know if General Atomics is feeling a little Déjà vu? I am...

Don't know if General Atomics is feeling a little Déjà vu?
I am reading this wiki page:
Plenty of work to keep fighting for in the defense sector/category and as mentioned QHL have relations with Northrop Grumman.  If an MoU came about to do with manufacturing this or that with relation to the UAV?  Well I'm sure Quickstep Holdings would deliver what ever was required on-time and budget.  No biased feelings.  Could work out the same way tail spars.  From prime to supplier to us?  Or whatever..?
Contract competition[edit]

The competitors for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) contract included:^[10]

• Boeing, with an unmanned version of the Gulfstream G550 business jet. It was optionally manned and has "commonality with other Boeing-built naval aircraft."^[11][12]
• Northrop Grumman, with a navalized RQ-4 Global Hawk. In order to begin testing the surveillance package early, Northrop Grumman contracted with Flight Test Associates of the Mojave Spaceport to modify a Grumman Gulfstream II as a flying testbed.
• Lockheed Martin, with a General Atomics MQ-9 Mariner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_MQ-4C_Triton

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton

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	MQ-4C Triton
1
2	The prototype MQ-4C, BuNo 168457, on its first flight
3	Role	Unmanned maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft
4	National origin	United States
5	Manufacturer	Northrop Grumman
6	First flight	22 May 2013
7	Introduction	May 2018[1]
8	Status	Limited service[1]
9	Primary user	United States Navy
10	Number built	68 (planned) + 2 prototypes[2]
11	Program cost	US$12,766.5m (as of FY15)
12	Unit cost	US$120.689m (FY15)[2]US$182.378m (inc R&D)[2]
13	Developed from	Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk

MQ-4C Triton completes first flight
The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development for the United States Navy as a surveillance aircraft. In tandem with its associated ground control station, it is considered an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program, the system is intended to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions (ISR) 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.^[3][4][5] Triton builds on elements of the RQ-4 Global Hawk; changes include reinforcements to the air frame and wing, de-icing systems, and lightning protection systems. These capabilities allow the aircraft to descend through cloud layers to gain a closer view of ships and other targets at sea when needed. The current sensor suites allow ships to be tracked over time by gathering information on their speed, location, and classification.^[6]
The MQ-4C System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft was delivered in 2012 and the MQ-4C was originally expected to be operational by late 2015^[7][8] with a total of 68 aircraft to be procured. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the MQ-4C was achieved in 2018^[1] with Full Operating Capability (FOC) planned in 2023.^[9]

Development[edit]

Key features[edit]

• Provides persistent maritime ISR 24 hours/7 days per week with 80% Effective Time on Station (ETOS)
• AN/ZPY-3 Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) with active electronically scanned array
• Land-based air vehicle and sensor command and control
• 51,000-hour airframe life
• Due regard radar for safe separation
• Commercial off-the-shelf open architecture mission control system
• Net-ready interoperability solution (systems working together)
• Communications bandwidth management
• Dual redundant flight controls and surfaces
• Afloat Level II payload sensor data via line-of-sight^[6]

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Contract competition[edit]

The competitors for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) contract included:^[10]

• Boeing, with an unmanned version of the Gulfstream G550 business jet. It was optionally manned and has "commonality with other Boeing-built naval aircraft."^[11][12]
• Northrop Grumman, with a navalized RQ-4 Global Hawk. In order to begin testing the surveillance package early, Northrop Grumman contracted with Flight Test Associates of the Mojave Spaceport to modify a Grumman Gulfstream II as a flying testbed.
• Lockheed Martin, with a General Atomics MQ-9 Mariner

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The BAMS UAS was acquired for the U.S. Navy as a Department of Defense Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1D program^[13][14] and on April 22, 2008, Northrop Grumman received the BAMS contract worth $1.16 billion.^[15] Lockheed Martin filed a formal protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) two weeks later.^[16] On August 11, 2008 the GAO ruled to uphold the Navy’s selection of Northrop Grumman.^[17] In September 2010, the BAMS aircraft was designated the MQ-4C.^[18]