Raytheon Says American Navy Deploys Its Next-Gen UAV Controls

Raytheon Company RTN said the American Navy has deployed its next-generation unmanned helicopter. The company said the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command and the company have deployed advanced mission control for the MQ-8 Fire Scout, an unmanned helicopter, aboard the Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado, which was underway currently.

According to the company, Navy control hardware while Raytheon control software. The combination provided robust, flexible command and control of Fire Scout missions in littoral waters.

Raytheon's Mission Support and Modernization VP, Todd Probert, said "Raytheon's UAV ground controls help support Navy missions without putting sailors' lives at risk. Our innovative technology is helping the U.S. military evolve standards of performance and reliability as they accomplish their critical missions more efficiently and effectively."

The company indicated the Navy hardware and its software were built with an open architecture, optimizing flexibility to add new technology as required. The defense equipment maker said that under a related effort, the Navy's Common Control System, or NCCS, would be able to control any air, ground, surface and subsurface vehicles as they deploy with the fleet.

Navy Captain, Jeff Dodge, said "Our new Fire Scout MCS enables Fire Scout to bring more mission to more areas. Fire Scout is a proven capability in dynamic littoral environments, and now provides the potential for multiple platforms to be controlled from a single MCS aboard the ship."

Shares of the company traded 1.08 percent higher on Wednesday.