Northrop Grumman formally opened its new Unmanned Systems Center production facility in Moss Point, Miss., on Tuesday, with CEO Ron Sugar presiding over the opening ceremony. Sugar pronounced the new center a dedicated unmanned systems production facility with significant expansion potential—in a “cost-effective location.” The $13 million, 101,000 square-foot facility will be used to produce the Army’s MQ-8B Fire Scout and portions of the Air Force’s RQ-4B Global Hawk high-altitude ISR unmanned aerial vehicle.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

