The U.S. Navy is expanding the operational scope of its helicopter-like, vertical-take-off-and-landing Fire Scout drone as part of an effort to increase its impact in major maritime warfare. In addition to extending the Fire Scout’s traditional role with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and video surveillance, the Navy is also developing the drone for submarine-hunting and beyond-the-horizon networking. Various emerging laser and radar technologies will be used by the drone to detect and destroy enemy subs, ships, and mines.
