Drone squadron a Navy first

The Navy is launching its first unmanned helicopter squadron next month in Coronado, Calif. HUQ-1 Hydras will train current pilots and enlisted non-pilots to fly the unmanned helicopters likely to become common on Navy ships. MQ-8C Fire Scouts, built by Northrop Grumman, will arrive at North Island Naval Air Station in 2014. The larger version of the Fire Scout will be operated off destroyers and frigates. The Navy has tested the MQ-8B version of the Fire Scout on frigates and have deployed them in Afghanistan. (Source: UTSanDiego, 09/10/12) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. Previous on Fire Scout