Fire Scouts to hunt pirates, gather intel

The Navy's Fire Scout unmanned helicopter this year will look for pirates in the Middle East and gather intelligence for troops in Afghanistan, according to a report in Aviation Week. Three aircraft and two ground control stations will participate in the Afghanistan deployment. Builder Northrop Grumman will operate and maintain the system under the guidance of Navy officers. Two Fire Scouts are also aboard the U.S. frigate Halyburton, which sailed to Southwest Asia in early January. A Fire Scout was credited with a humanitarian save last week, when it spotted a wayward boat and hovered until help arrived. The Navy will determine Fire Scout's suitability after operational evaluation in October. A full-rate production decisions would follow. The Navy plans to buy 168 Fire Scouts. (Source: Aviation Week, 02/09/11) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.