Northrop Grumman [NOC] last fall successfully completed maritime sensor demonstrations for the Coast Guard using a company-owned MQ-8B Fire Scout tactical vertical unmanned aircraft system. Fire Scout was equipped with the Telephonics’ [GFF] 1700B search, surveillance, tracking and imaging radar system and a FLIR [FLIR] electro-optical, infrared system. The purpose of the test was to verify and validate ship-deployed UAS aircraft and payload capabilities. The Coast Guard has said it needs to see how a maritime airborne sensor would work on a vertical UAS before deciding whether to acquire the platforms for use on National Security Cutters.