Fire Scouts on 3rd deployment

MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopters departed last week aboard the USS Simpson on a third operational deployment. The frigate is scheduled to spend six months off the coast of West Africa and in the Mediterranean. Two airframes are deployed and provide the ship's sole aviation capability. On previous deployments the Fire Scouts were accompanied by MH-60 Seahawk. (Source: Flightglobal, 01/23/12) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss., by Northrop Grumman.