SAN DIEGO, July 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy
got its first look at the upgraded MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned system
when Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) delivered its first
MQ-8C system this month.
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Northrop Grumman is the Navy's prime contractor for the MQ-8
Fire Scout program of record. The company delivered the first MQ-8C
aircraft to the Navy in early July in preparation for ground and
flight testing.
"The endurance upgrade doubles the time on station of the MQ-8
system and will help reduce the workload for the ship's crew by
cutting the number of times the crew will need to be in flight
quarters," said George Vardoulakis,
vice president, medium range tactical systems for Northrop Grumman.
"Ground and flight testing are the next steps in meeting the urgent
requirement for maritime intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance. Testing on the Naval Air Systems Command test range
provides us with extended air space to conduct and demonstrate long
endurance and systems testing in a maritime environment."
The upcoming tests will be used to validate and mature the
upgraded MQ-8 system for operational use. Initial ground testing
will ensure that the systems work properly and communicate with the
ground control station prior to conducting first flight. The MQ-8
system with the upgraded MQ-8C aircraft will share proven software,
avionics, payloads and ship ancillary equipment with the MQ-8B
aircraft.
The upgraded Fire Scout responds to an urgent need to provide
the Navy with increased endurance, range and payload. Using a
modified commercially available airframe, the upgraded MQ-8 system
can provide commanders with three times the payload and double the
endurance at extended ranges compared to the current MQ-8B
variant.
The MQ-8B aircraft currently operates on Navy frigates and in
Afghanistan, where it provides
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to
maritime and ground commanders.
The first deployment of the upgraded MQ-8 system with the MQ-8C
Fire Scout aircraft will be in 2014.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation