Demonstration
August 11, 2009
SAN DIEGO – Aug. 11, 2009 – A Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NYSE:NOC) owned land-based MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft
System (VUAS), designated P7, successfully demonstrated its
reconnaissance surveillance and target acquisition/intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance (RSTA/ISR) capabilities this week at
Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Ariz.
Fire Scout's RSTA/ISR demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground
continues to illustrate its readiness to support the warfighter,
highlighting its capability to provide critical real-time RSTA to
brigade combat teams (BCT). Fire Scout provides the commander with the
most comprehensive view of a selected area across all wavelength
spectrums enabling decision-making and integration of soldiers' actions
with supporting BCT fires and effects.
"Fire Scout's ability to move at reduced rates of speed and its
multi-functional plug-and-play payload suite provide the warfighter
greater options compared to other unmanned aircraft systems," said Mike
Howell, business development manager for Army systems at Northrop
Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Fire Scout's ability to operate at
low ground speeds and ability to operate in remote, unprepared landing
zones allows it to move with the brigade and easily acquire and track
targets in complex and urban terrain."
This RSTA/ISR demonstration was conducted with the use of a
high-magnification electro-optical, infrared (EO/IR) payload, which
includes a long range laser designator and rangefinder (LR/LD). Full
motion video was relayed down to ground operators in real time over a
Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). After an autonomous launch, Fire
Scout demonstrated its ability to find, fix, and track hostile forces
during a real-time operational scenario in complex terrain at night.
Fire Scout has the capability to support several different RSTA
payloads including FLIR System's BRITE Star II EO/IR/LR/LD, Northrop
Grumman's ASTAMIDS EO/IR/LR/LD (which also provides countermine
capabilities), and FLIR System's Star SAFIRE III EO/IR/LR. Additional
payloads can be easily integrated using Fire Scout's robust open
systems modular payload architecture. This flexibility also enhances
Fire Scout's ability to support the warfighter.
The P7 Fire Scout capability demonstrations will continue
throughout the summer with missions focused on advantages the VUAS will
provide to land-component warfighters. Continued simultaneous flight
operations of P7 and the maritime-configured P6 underscore MQ-8B Fire
Scout's versatility, readiness for deployment and its joint role as a
program of record for both the Navy and the Army.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security
company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products,
and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems,
shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial
customers worldwide.
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