News Review: Fire Scout returns from first operational deployment | ADM Jun 2010

1 June 2010

Northrop Grumman's MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) returned from its first operational deployment in April.

The VTUAV was embarked aboard USS McInerney (FFG 8) during a six-month deployment to the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility.

USS McInerney is the first ship to support Fire Scout and the first ship to make a drug bust using a VTUAV, with a drug interdiction April 3.

Fire Scout was on a post-maintenance check flight when the operators spotted suspected narcotics smugglers.