Northrop to Produce Six More MQ-8C Fire Scout UAVs for U.S. Navy

MQ-8C Fire Scout UAV U.S.Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract valued at more than $71 million to produce six additi...

MQ-8C Fire Scout UAV

U.S.Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract valued at more than $71 million to produce six additional next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopters.
The Fire Scout endurance upgrade,designated the MQ-8C and based on Bell Helicopter's 407, will provide ship commanders with increased range, endurance and payload capacity over the current MQ-8B variant.
The Navy plans to purchase a total of 30 aircraft under a rapid development effort. Northrop Grumman is currently under contract to produce 14 Fire Scouts that are scheduled to begin deploying in 2014.
Manufacturing and assembly operations of the new Fire Scout variant are well under way across the country, with airframe modifications being made at Bell's facility in Ozark, Alabama., and final assembly being completed at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Missisippi.
The MQ-8C Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has the ability to autonomously take off and land on any aviation-capable warship and at prepared and unprepared landing zones in proximity to the soldier in contact.
Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the MQ-8C program. Major suppliers for new variant include Bell Helicopter and Rolls Royce.