The Northrop Grumman-built MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter surpassed 5,000 flight hours while providing surveillance to field commanders in Afghanistan. Since deploying to Afghanistan in 2011, the MQ-8 Fire Scout system has provided real-time airborne surveillance and targeting supporting counter improvised explosive devices, provided targeting support and delivered real-time video to military forces on the ground. Northrop Grumman is under contract to the Navy to build the first eight of 30 planned MQ-8C versions of the Fire Scout, which will have twice the endurance, three times the payload capability, and will be ready for operation next year. Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. (Source: Northrop Grumman via PRNewswire, 08/13/13)