Navy to arm Fire Scout with laser-guided weapons system
- By Defense Systems Staff
- Nov 10, 2011
The Navy’s Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has conducted a wide variety of reconnaissance missions around the globe, and now the service plans to arm it with a 70mm laser-guided rocket system to engage hostile targets in future clashes.
Northrop Grumman officials said Nov. 8 they have begun outfitting the Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout with the precision weapons system and plan to deliver an operational version of the system by March 2013.
The Naval Air Systems Command awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman in September to develop the equipment needed to control the Fire Scout’s weapons system.