Raytheon has achieved another industry first from NATO for the U.S. Navy Tactical Control System. The so-called STANAG (Standardization Agreement) 4586 certification confirms that the TCS is the only unmanned ground control system conforming to the NATO standard.

"This is a great accomplishment for the Navy, Raytheon and the TCS program," said Capt. Tim Dunigan, U.S. Navy. "Having the NATO STANAG 4586 stamp of approval provides the United States and the Navy the first open architecture unmanned aircraft conforming ground system."

The Tactical Control System gives the Navy an advanced ground system that provides an open user interface enabling unmanned aircraft system operators to train on one system and control multiple unmanned aircraft system payloads with minimal training.

"Now we have the first NATO stamp of approval on the TCS unmanned ground control system," said Ravindra Nirgudkar, program manager for Raytheon's Tactical Control System. "The TCS is the first 'open' unmanned ground control system in the world."

The Navy's MQ-8B Fire Scout by Northrop Grumman will be the first air vehicle to use this STANAG 4586-certified software. The control system consists of mission planning, command and control, data processing and dissemination capabilities for operation of the full range of tactical unmanned aircraft systems.