via ASDNews.
San Diego - The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire
Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle
marked a new single-day flight record of 18 hours.
U.S. Navy operators achieved the record using a single aircraft in a
series of endurance flights Feb. 25 from the USS Halyburton (FFG 40).
Fire Scout is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
data to support anti-piracy missions while deployed on the ship for the
Navy's 5th Fleet.
I like it. The only thing really missing with these advancements is the lack of standardization. The K-MAX is about to enter service with the Marines as a cargo UAV and it would make sense to use either it or the Fire Scout for both missions. Current budget realities demand it. Still NGC is to be congratulated.
