SAN DIEGO, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A U.S.-built unmanned aerial vehicle has successfully completed initial flights from a U.S. Navy littoral combat ship.
Northrop Grumman, maker of the aircraft, said the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle underwent test flights, called dynamic interface testing, to verify control systems integration.
"This was a great opportunity to witness the pairing of the LCS with Fire Scout because it represents what the Navy will use for future littoral security missions," said George Vardoulakis, vice president for tactical unmanned systems for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector.
"We used the opportunity to demonstrate system performance capabilities with the ship, maintenance crew and other key logistical support functions."
During testing, the Fire Scout was put through a series of shipboard takeoffs and landings from various approaches. Testing included subjecting the system to various wind directions and ship speeds.
Fire Scout is intended as a key intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset in LCS mission packages for mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare.
Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for LCS mission packages.
