Coast Guard launches Fire Scout from a cutter

The Coast Guard has flown its first MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial system off a national security cutter. A Fire Scout control station located on the USCGC Bertholf off the coast of Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., demonstrated the platform's functionality.

Currently operational with the Navy and deployed on frigates and littoral combat ships, Northrop Grumman's MQ-8B system has completed thousands of flight hours and sorties and is intended to increase surveillance range and capability for the Coast Guard.

"The MQ-8B Fire Scout is the Navy's combat-proven unmanned helicopter, and can provide the same persistent maritime surveillance capabilities for the Coast Guard. I'm confident that we'll demonstrate increased NSC effectiveness while lowering the Coast Guard's operational costs," said George Vardoulakis, vice president for medium range tactical systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, in a news release.

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