Rear Adm. DeWolfe Miller, U.S. Navy director of air warfare, has said the service branch will introduce its first unmanned-only aviation squadron that will operate out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, USNI News reported Tuesday.
Megan Eckstein writes the MQ-4C Triton community will stand up Friday Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 – that falls under Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 with manned P-8 squadrons.
Miller noted Benjamin Stinespring will lead the VUP 19 squadron that will prepare for early operational capability and a first deployment to U.S. 7th fleet in 2018 as well as work with P-8 operators to create strategies and procedures for the maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
The report added that a second squadron called VUP-11 will also be stood up at NAS Whidbey Island and more sensors will be added to the air vehicles until a future variant to replace the EP-3E Aries II aircraft will be established.
