The tests begin a series of flights designed to verify the TCS's ability to control the Fire Scout air vehicle and payload, provide the air vehicle and payload operator's displays, and disseminate data to the command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) architecture.

The first three flights lasted a total of 21 minutes and included autonomous engine start, take-off abort, normal take-off, mission abort, normal mission, waypoint navigation, "vector" control of the air vehicle, recovery and landing. No discrepancies were noted during the flight that reached an altitude of 1,000 feet and an air speed of 30 knots.

The TCS software provides three benefits: seamless control of any TCS-compliant UAV system from a TCS-configured Ground Control Station (GCS); standardized graphical user interfaces for operators; and seamless dissemination of payload productions out to the Joint C4I architecture. Fire Scout is the first UAV system to be fully TCS-compliant.

The next major event in the series of test flights for Fire Scout and TCS is scheduled for late August. It will test the Fire Scout system's ability to operate in a shipboard environment.

The tests will comprise flight operations from Point Mugu Naval Air Station, Calif., directed by a TCS-configured GCS aboard the USS Denver (LPD-9), operating off the coast of Point Mugu.

The Fire Scout system is in development and low-rate initial production by Northrop Grumman and could be a force multiplier for Navy forces at sea and U.S. Marine Corps forces ashore.

The air vehicle can operate at altitudes up to 20,000 feet and provides the capability to watch for threats within 150 nautical miles of the ground control station. The system can direct Navy and Marine weapons accurately to the target with precise target location coordinates or the laser designator.

Related Links
Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express