“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” initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E), according to a new government audit.
Following the release of the report today, Alabama politicians began touting the new OIG report as justifying a Trump move to reverse Biden's basing decision.
The MQ-9B and Gambit Series represent parallel capabilities that address global challenges for security head-on.
The DoD IG announced the reviews amid a flurry of other new review projects, including one covering US Cyber Command's relationship with the NSA and how well the Pentagon would maintain C2 in the event of a nuclear attack.
The Navy views MQ-25A Stingray as urgently needed by the fleet, but the DoD Inspector General warned the service was moving too fast.