Fire Scout has successful RSTA/ISR demo

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman says its land-based MQ-8B Fire Scout aircraft system has marked a milestone following a recent demonstration in Arizona.

U.S. company Northrop Grumman announced its MQ-8B Fire Scout, a vertical unmanned aircraft system, successfully demonstrated its reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition/intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, or RSTA/ISR, capabilities.

The demonstration, which took place at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona using a high-magnification electro-optical, infrared payload, marked a milestone for the land-based Fire Scout variant illustrating is potential to provide military units with real-time RSTA support.

"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," Mike Howell, Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector business development manager for Army systems, said in a statement.

"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."