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Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Navy to Arm Northrop Grumman-Built Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter

MQ-8 Fire ScoutNorthrop Grumman Corporation has started work outfitting the U.S. Navy's MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter with a weapons system. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System laser-guided 70mm rocket – in production for the Navy since 2010 – will allow ship commanders to identify and engage hostile targets without calling in other aircraft for support.

"By arming Fire Scout, the Navy will have a system that can locate and prosecute targets of interest," said George Vardoulakis, Northrop Grumman's vice president for tactical unmanned systems. "This capability shortens the kill chain and lessens the need to put our soldiers in harm's way."

Northrop will develop and deliver the equipment needed to control the weapons system under a $17 million contract awarded to the company Sept. 23 by Naval Air Systems Command. Final delivery of an operational system is expected by March 2013.

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