Northrop to Upgrade Navigation Systems of Navy’s Fire Scout UAV

Northrop Grumman Corp. will work to upgrade the navigation systems of the U.S. Navy’s Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles, Military & Aerospace Electronics reported Wednesday.

John Keller writes the Naval Air Systems Command is planning to award a sole-source contract to Northrop’s aerospace systems segment to evaluate and certify the Kearfott-built KN-4073C navigation systems.

The Navy wants the systems aboard the MQ-8B/C Fire Scout shipboard unmanned helicopters upgraded to the -13 configuration, according to the report.

The navigation technologies feature Kearfott’s T-16B monolithic ring laser gyro and accelerometer triad with an embedded SAASM P(Y) code global positioning system receiver, Military & Aerospace Electronics reports.

Keller writes KN-4073C systems display data on position and altitude, geographic velocities, true heading, roll and pitch, magnetic heading and wind speed.