The US Navy (USN) plans to equip the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout rotary-winged unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an electronic warfare (EW) capability through the development of a new external pod, the Department of Defense (DoD) disclosed on 1 May.
Under a contract listing, Northrop Grumman is being given USD10.8 million to develop and integrate the new Multi Capability Pod (MCAP) onto the MQ-8C. The MCAP will provide the UAV with "multiple electronic warfare sensors for employment in the littorals", the DOD listing said.
Work is scheduled to be completed in June 2015.
Developed from the Bell 407 manned helicopter, the MQ-8C Fire scout will provide an enhanced capability over its smaller MQ-8B namesake, which is modelled on the smaller Schweizer Aircraft model 330 helicopter.