The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Navy’s management of the MQ‑4C Triton unmanned aircraft program’s operational capabilities.
The Navy did not effectively manage the operational capabilities of the MQ‑4C Triton unmanned aircraft program. Specifically,
Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA‑262) did not correct developmental testing and evaluation (DT&E) deficiencies, of which precluded the Navy from conducting initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E). PMA‑262 also did not correct operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) deficiencies reported in the interim OT&E reports. This occurred because the Navy determined that the MQ‑4C Triton was beneficial to the fleet despite the open deficiencies and therefore declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in August 2023 before conducting IOT&E.