SAN DIEGO, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has delivered the second MQ-8C Fire Scout
unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy after completing final
assembly at the company's unmanned systems center in Moss Point,
Miss.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO)
The aircraft is joining the first one delivered to Naval Base
Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., to conduct flight testing
before using the system for operational missions in 2014.
"Since 2006 we have conducted final assembly of the earlier
MQ-8B Fire Scout aircraft from our Moss Point facility, so we have
a lot of manufacturing experience there," said George Vardoulakis, vice president for medium
range tactical systems, Northrop Grumman. "With the MQ-8C variant
being assembled there as well, we can use the same expertise and
quality processes already developed."
The MQ-8C Fire Scout is the Navy's newest unmanned helicopter
that can fly twice as long and carry three times more intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance payloads than the existing
variant.
To prepare the second MQ-8C Fire Scout for flight operations, a
series of ground and flight tests will occur to validate payload
integration and that communications between the ground control
system and the aircraft are working properly.
Including the two test aircraft, 14 new Fire Scouts are
currently under contract to be built. The Navy's current plan is to
purchase 30 MQ-8C Fire Scouts.
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