WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army and Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems of Los Angeles have completed testing of a new GPS-guided weapon system for the MQ-5B Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle, according to a Sept. 1 Northrop Grumman press release.
Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor on the Hunter aircraft, which were the first to be deployed by the Army and are now in use in U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Hunter’s current Viper Strike weapon system must be directly overhead of a target to engage it. The GPS-enhanced version of the system will soon be deployed on aircraft in theater and will enable a stand-off distance of up to six miles, the release said.
