12-Oct-2016 Source: HeliHub.com
A $3.3 million contract has been awarded to Bell Helicopter to further investigations on the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout UAS. The US Naval Air Systems (NAVAIR) has awarded this money in the hopes to research more into the potential of future flight strain, tail boom cracking and fatigue on the craft. HIS Janes has reported that in order to test these issues, Bell will use their own 407 helicopter. The 407 meets the minimum requirements of the MQ-8C Fire Scout.