Northrop Grumman announced that its MQ-8C Fire Scout vertical take off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) passed the initial fit check aboard U.S. Navy San Antonio-class LPD USS Anchorage (LPD-23) at Naval Base San Diego.

The U.S. Navy, with support from Northrop Grumman Corporation, commenced flight testing of the MQ-8C Fire Scout equipped with the Leonardo AN/ZPY-8 radar.

The U.S. Navy declared initial operational capability (IOC) of the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter June 28 clearing the way for fleet operations and training.