DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, San Diego, Calif., For Operations And Maintenance Services In Support of MQ-8B Fire Scout

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, San Diego, Calif., For Operations And Maintenance Services In Support of  MQ-8B Fire Scout

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. Department of Defense No. 930-12 - November 28, 2012
(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - Novembe 29, 2012: Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $15,010,161 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for operations and maintenance services in support of the MQ-8B Fire Scout.
  

Work will be performed in Afghanistan (90 percent), and Patuxent River, Md. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2013.  

This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.  

Contract funds in the amount of $1,500,000 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

 The remaining funding will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-13-C-0018).


Northrop Grumman's Transformational Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle system provides unprecedented situation awareness and precision targeting support for U.S. Armed Forces of the future.

The MQ-8B Fire Scout has the ability to autonomously take off and land on any aviation-capable warship and at prepared and unprepared landing zones in proximity to the soldier in contact.

 The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) to produce the next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopter using the Bell 407 airframe. The new variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity to ship commander's intelligence-gathering efforts.

According to a U.S. Department of Defense news release on contract awards released April 23, the company will produce a total of eight Fire Scouts within an amount not to exceed $262 million. The Navy plans to purchase a total of 28 aircraft under a rapid development effort.

The Fire Scout endurance upgrade has been designated as the MQ-8C.

"Through our company-funded Fire-X demonstration effort we proved that using the mature unmanned systems architecture developed for the MQ-8B Fire Scout paired with the Bell 407 helicopter would provide greater capability efficiently and affordably," said Duke Dufresne, vice president and general manager for unmanned systems. "By using systems that have many years of development already invested in them we can meet the Navy's needs quickly."

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the MQ-8C program. Major suppliers for new variant include Bell Helicopter and Rolls Royce.

Final assembly of the new Fire Scout variant will be completed at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.


*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. Department of Defense No. 930-12 - November 28, 2012
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Northrop Grumman To Upgrade Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter For U.S. Navy

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Northrop Grumman To Upgrade Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter For U.S. Navy
*System Provides Greater Endurance, Range and Payload Capacity
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Northrop Grumman

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 25, 2012: The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) to produce the next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopter using the Bell 407 airframe. The new variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity to ship commander's intelligence-gathering efforts.

According to a U.S. Department of Defense news release on contract awards released April 23, the company will produce a total of eight Fire Scouts within an amount not to exceed $262 million. The Navy plans to purchase a total of 28 aircraft under a rapid development effort.

The Fire Scout endurance upgrade has been designated as the MQ-8C.

"Through our company-funded Fire-X demonstration effort we proved that using the mature unmanned systems architecture developed for the MQ-8B Fire Scout paired with the Bell 407 helicopter would provide greater capability efficiently and affordably," said Duke Dufresne, vice president and general manager for unmanned systems. "By using systems that have many years of development already invested in them we can meet the Navy's needs quickly."

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the MQ-8C program. Major suppliers for new variant include Bell Helicopter and Rolls Royce.

Final assembly of the new Fire Scout variant will be completed at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit

www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

CONTACT: Warren Comer

         (858) 618-7788 Office
         (858) 705-7246 Cell
         warren.comer@ngc.com

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Northrop Grumman
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News: U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Navy Craft Flies Into Restricted Airspace

DTN News: U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Navy Craft Flies Into Restricted Airspace

Source: DTN News / By Michele Salcedo, Associated Press Writer Michele Salcedo, Associated Press Writer – Thu Aug 26, 1:52 am ET

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON- August 26, 2010: An unmanned aircraft went off course during testing and entered restricted airspace near the nation's capital earlier this month, the Navy said Wednesday. The craft, an MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle, is one of six the Navy is testing for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. It was supposed to fly a preprogrammed route over the Webster Field Annex at the naval air station at Patuxent River, Md., a Navy spokesman, Lt. Myers Vasquez, said. During testing on Aug. 2, controllers lost the link to the aircraft and it flew off route into the restricted area. Vasquez said the craft was about 40 miles away from Washington. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified that it was a Navy craft so they were aware and monitoring it, Vasquez said. The controllers were able to reprogram the craft and bring it back to the field about 20 minutes after they lost contact with the craft, Vasquez said. During that time, there was no communication between the controllers and the helicopter-like aircraft. Authorities have been on high alert for planes entering air space in and around major government buildings in the national capital region since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. FAA figures show that since then aircraft have entered restricted airspace around Washington roughly twice a day. Vasquez said the plane had flown about 1,000 hours and never had a similar incident. One of the other Fire Scouts was deployed on the USS McInerny off the coast of Central America and used in drug interdiction. The restricted airspace intrusion was first reported in The New York Times.

***Link to this article "U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Navy Craft Flies Into Restricted Airspace - By Michele Salcedo, Associated Press Writer Michele Salcedo, Associated Press Writer – Thu Aug 26, 1:52 am ET"

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

Related News

*Unmanned Navy craft flies into restricted airspace The Associated Press - Michele Salcedo - ‎7 hours ago‎ The craft, an MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle, is one of six the Navy is testing for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. ... *Navy Drone Violated Washington Airspace New York Times *Lost Navy UAV enters Washington airspace NavyTimes.com

*Military loses control of helicopter drone CNN (blog) - ‎5 hours ago‎

DTN News: Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned System Successfully Completes Testing Under Extreme Environmental Conditions

DTN News: Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned System Successfully Completes Testing Under Extreme Environmental Conditions

Source: DTN News / Northrop Grumman

(NSI News Source Info) ABU DHABI, UAE, - July 14, 2010: With the support of the United States Navy, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - News) and its industry partners (Sikorsky/Schweizer, Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, FLIR Systems, Cubic, Kearfott, Rockwell-Collins, General Electric, Sierra Nevada, Telephonics, and L-3 Communications) today successfully completed a rigorous set of flight demonstrations of the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical unmanned aerial system (VUAS) in the United Arab Emirates under extreme environmental conditions. A social media version of this news release, which includes key facts, quotes, photos, video clip and other relevant links and information can be found at http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=196314

The test flights were conducted in early July over a ten day period in the United Arab Emirates. They validated Fire Scout's steady system maturation and helped signal its readiness for the U.S. Navy's upcoming Operational Evaluation of the system, planned for late 2010 aboard the USS Halyburton (FFG-40). "We welcome Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy to the UAE for continued testing of the Fire Scout," said Ali Al Yafei of ADASI (Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment). "As a VUAS, Fire Scout has many unique capabilities to offer and we're looking forward to reviewing the results of this in-country testing." The Fire Scout demonstrations included numerous takeoffs and landings in hot, windy and sandy conditions in temperatures as high as 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit). The VUAS also conducted various test flights at altitudes up to 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) . These demonstration missions included non-line-of-sight operations that showcased Fire Scout's ability to operate autonomously in remote locations, and its FLIR Systems electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensing capabilities used to locate and acquire targets. Video imagery from the testing was presented today at a post-testing event to an audience of interested multi-national government agencies, and domestic and international media. The imagery, a compilation of video produced by Fire Scout's sensors during field trials, demonstrated the VUAS's real-time imagery-transmission capability, a vital element of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions it performs for military forces. "Today's demonstration was very impressive and reinforces the continued maturation of the Fire Scout system and its capabilities," said John Brooks, president of Northrop Grumman International Inc. "Northrop Grumman thanks the UAE for being such a gracious host and offering us the opportunity to test Fire Scout in the extreme heat of summer. The UAE represents an important partnership for Northrop Grumman and our customers internationally demand the best. We are committed to continuing to meet and exceed their expectations." The only U.S. Department of Defense VUAS program of record, Fire Scout is a mature, flexible and reliable system whose capabilities can serve as a true force multiplier. "The capabilities that Fire Scout delivers to warfighters really stood out today," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president and general manager for the Strike and Surveillance Systems Division of Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "It's clear from this demonstration that Fire Scout can do exactly what it's designed to do: extend the range at which we can gather crucial information during peacekeeping or wartime missions." 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. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Contact: Nathan Drevna

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

(703) 741-7393

(571) 286-8440 mobile

nathan.drevna@ngc.com

Related Headlines

*Northrop looks to split ship unit, close shipyard - AP *Northrop Grumman Call scheduled for Wed, July 14 - CCBN *Northrop Grumman to Consolidate Gulf Coast Shipyards and Explore Strategic Alternatives for Shipbuilding Business - PR Newswire *Rockwell Rises As Merrill Says Buy, $75 Target - at Barron's Online

DTN News: USAF Broadens Plans For Next-Generation UAV

DTN News: USAF Broadens Plans For Next-Generation UAV Source: DTN News / Defense News By John Reed (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 28, 2010: The U.S. Air Force has begun re-evaluating and expanding the missions its MQ-X next generation tactical UAV will be required to perform to go beyond battlefield strike and ISR, service officials announced. The move is intended to make sure specifications outlined in the aircraft's initial capabilities document meet mission requirements for new UAVs in the service's just completed Remotely Piloted Vehicle Flight Plan, according to Col. Bruce Emig, chief of Air Combat Command's (ACC's) irregular warfare requirements division. The flight plan calls for a next-generation, medium-size UAV such as the MQ-X to performseveral new mission sets, such as cargo hauling and aerial refueling, that don't fall under ACC's purview, according to Emig. "We need to see if the [current definition of MQ-X] is a good solution" for those missions, Emig said during an April 27 speech at an Institute for Defense and Government Advancement conference in Tysons Corner, Va. At a minimum, MQ-X is slated to replace the service's MQ-9 Reaper UAVs in their role as medium-sized strike and ISR planes. ACC is now working with Air Force Materiel Command, Air Mobility Command and Air Force Special Operations Command to determine what they need out of a next generation UAV, according to Emig. The service plans to have the requirements finalized in time to be included in its 2014 Program Objective Memorandum, he added. At a minimum, the aircraft must have protected communications and datalinks, the ability to survive in contested airspace, and enough power generating and cargo capacity to allow it to carry a variety of sensors and weapons, according to Emig. The aircraft must also incorporate so called sense-and-avoid technology to prevent collisions with nearby aircraft, he added. Service officials want the MQ-X and all future UAVs to be able to carry and operate a variety of mission payloads in the same way a C-130 can today. The Air Force's chief intelligence officer, Lt. Gen. David Deptula, said this probably won't have a serious impact on the service's plans to field the plane - which he described as "an order of magnitude" more advanced than the MQ-9 - close to 2020 to 2022. *This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial System Demonstrates Critical Resupply Capability

DTN News: Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial System Demonstrates Critical Resupply Capability *Source: DTN News / Northrop Grumman (NSI News Source Info) SAN DIEGO, - February 16, 2010: Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully demonstrated that its MQ-8B Vertical Unmanned Aerial System (VUAS) can resupply U.S. or coalition troops deployed on a combat mission. The MQ-8B Class IV UAV, developed by Northrop Grumman, is based on the highly successful RQ-8A vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) system developed for the US Navy, which is currently in test and evaluation having successfully completed over 245 test flights since May 2002. The US Army selected the MQ-8B in August 2003 for the US Army's class IV UAV, which is part of the US Army's future combat systems (FCS) programme. The system provides the Army with real-time imagery, data collection and dissemination at brigade level. The company conducted the autonomous proof-of-principle resupply capability during the current Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) at Fort Benning, Ga. AEWE gives soldiers a first-hand look at emerging technologies and concepts. "Fire Scout's ability to deliver supplies autonomously demonstrates its readiness to support troops in the field," said Al Nikolaus, program director of land-based Fire Scout at Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "It also highlights one of the many advantages of a vertical unmanned aerial system. We have matured this capability and we're eager to support our warfighters in theater with the resupply of small-unit logistics that is so vitally needed." For the AEWE mission, Fire Scout had two ruggedized containers attached to external pylons. Fire Scout flew autonomously from take-off to the cargo drop to landing. The VUAS also used its electro-optical/infrared optical payload during the mission to practice reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) techniques. The ability to conduct simultaneous RSTA and logistics missions is another unique Fire Scout capability. Fire Scout is equipped with a payload interface unit, which allows it to release the cargo pod without the presence of a soldier. Fire Scout observed the landing area to confirm the area was free of obstacles and personnel prior to landing. Upon landing, Fire Scout's skid sensors detected contact with the ground. Upon touchdown, the autonomous mission was preplanned for release of the cargo pod and seconds later the aircraft took off again to continue its RSTA mission. "Fire Scout's ability to operate at low ground speeds and operate in remote, unprepared landing zones allows it to move with warfighters in the field and easily acquire and track targets in complex and urban terrain," said Nikolaus. "It's fully autonomous, and swiftly performs the dull, dirty and dangerous missions without putting soldiers in harm's way." 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.

Northrop Grumman Receives U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Contract Award For Third Year Of Low Rate Initial Production

Northrop Grumman Receives U.S. Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout Contract Award For Third Year Of Low Rate Initial Production

(NSI News Source Info) SAN DIEGO - February 23, 2009: Northrop Grumman Corporation's MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) program moves closer to Operational Evaluation (OpEval) with a recent U.S. Navy modification award to a previous firm fixed-price contract for the procurement of three VTUAV systems. This award, for an amount not to exceed $40 million, is the last of three planned low-rate initial production (LRIP) buys. MQ-8B: Although progress on the project had been regarded as satisfactory, the Navy decided the Fire Scout didn't meet their needs after all, and cut funding for production in December 2001. However, the development program continued, and Northrop Grumman pitched a range of improved configurations to anyone who was interested. As it turned out, the U.S. Army was very interested, awarding a contract for seven improved "RQ-8B" evaluation machines in late 2003. In 2006, it was redesignated "MQ-8B". The MQ-8B features four-blade main rotor, in contrast to the larger-diameter three-blade rotor of the RQ-8A, to reduce noise and improve lift capacity and performance. The four-blade rotor had already been evaluated on Fire Scout prototypes. They boost gross takeoff weight by 500 pounds to 3,150 pounds (by 225 kg to 1,430 kg), with payloads of up to 700 pounds (320 kg) for short-range missions. The MQ-8B is fitted with stub wings as well. The wings will serve both an aerodynamic purpose as well as an armament carriage location, to include weapons such as Hellfire missiles, Viper Strike laser-guided glide weapons, and in particular pods carrying the "Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)", a laser-guided 70 millimeter (2.75 inch) folding-fin rocket, which the Army sees as ideal for the modern battlefield. The Army is also interested in using the Fire Scout to carry up to 90 kilograms (200 pounds) of emergency supplies to troops in the field. The MQ-8B is being modified to permit rapid swapout of payload configurations. The current sensor configuration of a day/night turret with a laser target designator will of course remain an option. Alternate sensor payloads in consideration include a TSAR with Moving Target Indicator (MTI) capability, a multispectral sensor, a SIGINT module, the Target Acquisition Minefield Detection System (ASTAMIDS), and the Tactical Command Data Link (TCDL). The Army wants the Fire Scout to operate as an element of an integrated ground sensor network as well. The Army interest revived Navy interest in the program, with the Navy ordering eight Sea Scout MQ-8B derivatives for evaluation. The Navy authorized an LRIP 1 contract to Northrop Grumman for the Fire Scout VTUAV program in June 2007. The program achieved a series of program milestones and the Navy awarded an LRIP 2 contract in September 2008.

Under this LRIP 3 contract, the company will provide the Navy with three complete MQ-8B Fire Scouts with electro-optical payloads, three ground control stations, three light harpoon grids, three UAV common automatic recovery systems and six portable electronic display devices. Work is expected to be completed in March 2011. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. "Completing the LRIP 3 requirements will put the Fire Scout program one step closer to achieving Initial Operating Capability and supporting expansion of the Fire Scout program to both Littoral Combat Ships and other surface combatants," said Doug Fronius, MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV program director for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. The Navy plans to conduct Technical Evaluation of the Fire Scout program in early 2009. OpEval is scheduled for later in the year. The Fire Scout program will reach Initial Operating Capability soon after OpEval in 2009. 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.