Northrop Grumman Corporation recently began flight tests for MQ-8C Fire Scout aircraft produced in Moss Point at the Trent Lott International Airport, a major milestone for the company and the region’s aerospace economy.

Northrop Grumman’s Moss Point facility is key to producing and testing the MQ-8C Fire Scout, the U.S. Navy’s newest autonomous helicopter that is bringing increased speed, endurance and payload capacity to distributed maritime operations. The U.S. Navy recently completed initial operational test and evaluation aboard the USS Coronado (LCS-4) for the MQ-8C Fire Scout, which has over 1,500 program flight hours. The aircraft is a modified Bell 407 helicopter that is produced in Moss Point and supports quality manufacturing jobs in Mississippi.

«Building on Northrop Grumman’s recent announcement of new production capabilities in Moss Point and a 40 percent increase in employment at the site, the ability to now conduct MQ-8C Fire Scout flight tests where the production occurs will bring new efficiencies and effectiveness to our local operations and improve our ability to serve the U.S. Navy», said Melissa Packwood, program director, Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman.

In June, elected officials joined local employees to cut the ribbon on the new machine shop section that delivers important capabilities at Northrop Grumman’s Moss Point manufacturing center. For more than a decade, Gulf Coast employees have manufactured rotary and fixed wing autonomous systems in Moss Point that support the U.S. and its global allies. Recent facility upgrades have allowed for new work on manned aircraft to come to the site, diversifying the portfolio of work and bringing new jobs to the region.

In April 2004, Northrop Grumman broke ground in Moss Point with site construction beginning in 2005. In April 2006, Northrop Grumman contributed to aerospace industry growth in southern Mississippi when the ribbon was cut on the 101,000 square-foot facility. The company celebrated its 10-year anniversary at the site in 2016 and recently extended its lease adjacent to Trent Lott International Airport through 2026.

 

Specifications

Length	41.4 feet/12.6 m
Width	7.8 feet/2.4 m
Blades Folded Hangar	7.8×34.7×10.9 feet/2.4×10.6×3.3 m
Height	10.9 feet/3.3 m
Rotor Diameter	35 feet/10.7 m
Gross Takeoff Weight	6,000 lbs./2,721.5 kg
Engine	Rolls-Royce M250-C47B with FADEC (Full Authority Digital Electronic Control)

 

Performance

Speed	140 knots/161 mph/259 km/h (maximum)
Operational Ceiling	17,000 feet/5,182 m
Maximum Endurance	14 hrs.
Maximum Payload (Internal)	1,000 lbs./453.6 kg
Typical Payload	600 lbs./272 kg (11 hrs. endurance)
Maximum Sling Load	2,650 lbs./1,202 kg

 

Engine Specifications

Power	651 shp/485.45 kW
Pressure ratio	9.2
Length	42.95 inch/1.09 m
Diameter	24.81 inch/0.63 m
Basic weight	274 lbs./124.3 kg
Compressor	1CF (centrifugal high-pressure)
Turbine	2HP (two-stage high-pressure turbine), 2PT (two-stage power turbine)