Northrop, Coast Guard, Navy Demo Fire Scout on Cutter Ship; George Vardoulakis Comments

Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy demonstrated an unmanned helicopter off the coast of Naval Base Ventura County on Dec. 5, Point Mugu.

Navy and Coast Guard personnel controlled the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter while onboard the USCGC Bertholf national security cutter, Northrop said Tuesday.

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dan Broadhurst, UAS platform manager, said the demo was conducted to help inform USCG decisions on unmanned systems acquisitions in the future.

George Vardoulakis, vice president for medium-range tactical systems at Northrop, added that the MQ-8B Fire Scout is designed to provide maritime surveillance capabilities to the Coast Guard.

The Navy operates the MQ-8B on frigates and littoral combat ships.