U.S. Navy wants radar on Fire Scout VTUAV

SAN DIEGO, March 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy will incorporate radar onto Northrop Grumman Corp.'s MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV, Northrop Grumman said.

"Radar will ... maximize the use of the Fire Scout's Modular Payload Architecture that allows true 'plug and play' capability," said Doug Fronius, program director for Northrop Grumman's Integrated System's Fire Scout VTUAV program. "The radar demonstration will pave the way for the Navy's radar program."

Radar integration and installation will take place at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Development Centers in San Diego, Calif., and in Moss Point, Miss. Demonstration flights will be conducted at Webster Field, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. or Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., Northrop Grumman said.