Navy gets more MQ-8Cs

Fire Scouts at plant in Moss Point, Miss.
Northrop Grumman photo

Northrop Grumman is set to build 10 additional MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters for the U. S. Navy, giving maritime commanders persistent, real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). It brings to 29 the total number of MQ-8C Fire Scouts procured so far. The MQ-8C airframe is based on the commercial Bell 407, a helicopter with more than 1,600 airframes produced and over 4.4 million flight hours. Modifications to the MQ-8C's airframes are carried out at the Bell Helicopter facility in Ozark, Ala., and final assembly is performed in Moss Point, Miss. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 09/29/16)