MQ-8B Fire Scout hits milestone

The Northrop Grumman-built MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter surpassed 5,000 flight hours while providing surveillance to field commanders in Afghanistan. Since deploying to Afghanistan in 2011, the MQ-8 Fire Scout system has provided real-time airborne surveillance and targeting supporting counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs), provided targeting support and delivered real-time video to military forces on the ground. Northrop Grumman is under contract to the Navy to build the first eight of 30 planned MQ-8C versions of the Fire Scout, which will have twice the endurance, three times the payload capability, and will be ready for operation next year. (Source: Northrop Grumman via PRNewswire, 08/13/13) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.