Northrop adds to UAV lineup

Northrop Grumman, a major unmanned aerial vehicle maker with its Global Hawk and Fire Scout, has acquired Swift Engineering of San Clemente, Calif. The purchase gives Northrop the KillerBee line of unmanned systems, renamed the Bat. The blended wing-body UAV will be offered in sizes with wingspans ranging from 6.5 feet to 33.2 feet. (Source: Aviation Week, 04/28/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman’s Unmanned Systems Center is in Moss Point, Miss., where the company builds portions of the Fire Scout and Global Hawk.