Northrop to begin building more drones for Navy
Posted February 23, 2009 10:00 pm
SAN DIEGO -- Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss., has received a deal from the Navy worth up to $40 million to begin building the last batch of drones, the company said Monday.
Northrop, with a facility in Rolling Meadows, will deliver to the service three complete unmanned aerial vehicles, known as MQ-8B Fire Scouts, and corresponding ground control stations and light harpoon grids, among other items.
Work is expected to be completed in March 2011.
The Navy plans to conduct technical evaluation of the Fire Scout program in early 2009, and operation evaluation is scheduled for later this year. Northrop expects the program to reach initial operating capability soon thereafter.