Aircraft
Ready for duty, Fire Scout shipping out
The U.S.

The U.S. Navy revealed yesterday that the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout is to be temporarily “decoupled” from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The decision was taken so that the MQ-8B can be fielded on schedule, despite delays to the LCS. The Navy remains committed to deploying the MQ-8B aboard LCS at some stage, but is migrating the Fire Scout to another class of vessel in the interim. A decision on which class it will use is due in the coming days, with the FFG-7 frigate the most likely candidate.

Northrop Grumman has delivered three of the 12 low-rate production MQ-8Bs currently on order for the Navy, with the fourth about to be handed over from its facility at Moss Point, Missouri. Up to 131 are required.

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