First Upgraded MQ-8C Fire Scout Delivered to U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy got its first look at the upgraded MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned system when Northrop Grumman Corporation delivered its first MQ-8C system this month.

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.

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