NATIONAL HARBOR, MD -- Bell Helicopter and Northrop Grumman announced this morning they have formed a partnership to build and demonstrate a medium-range unmanned helicopter by the end of this year. The "Fire-X" effort will put the Northrop-built unmanned systems architecture used aboard its MQ-8B Fire Scout into an unmanned Bell 407, four-blade, single-engine helicopter. The system is intended to compete for the Navy's new medium-range, unmanned capability competition slated for next year, officials from both companies told reporters here...
