NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND: The Navy declared initial operational capability of the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter June 28 clearing the way for fleet operations and training. The MQ-8 Fire Scout is a sea-based, vertical lift unmanned system that is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, and precision targeting support for ground, air and sea […]

DefenceTalkThe “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 made history Sept. 14 when they used a MQ-8B unmanned air system as a laser designator platform for a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter to fire a AGM-114N Hellfire missile. For the mission, the MH-60S launched from Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, while the Northrup Grumman MQ-8B […]https://www.defencetalk.com/hsc-23-successfully-executes-first-mq-8b-remote-designation-hellfire-shot-68242/

DefenceTalkThe MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter recently deployed with the USS Coronado (LCS-4) to begin flight operations using its new maritime surveillance radar. The AN/ZPY-4(V)1 radar, built by Telephonics Corporation, will be used to improve the situational awareness of the Fire Scout operators and the ship’s crew in maritime and littoral environments. The AN/ZPY-4(V)1 will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-mq-8b-fire-scout-deploys-with-new-radar-capability-67752/

DefenceTalkThe MQ-8C Fire Scout completed a three week operational assessment period Nov. 20 at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, California. The OA included 11 flights totaling 83.4 flight hours where Fire Scout was tested against maritime and surveyed land targets to assess system performance, endurance and reliability of the unmanned helicopter. “MQ-8C is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mq-8c-fire-scout-completes-operational-assessment-65946/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy successfully demonstrated endurance capabilities with the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. On a planned 10+ hour flight and range out to 150 nautical miles flight from Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, the MQ-8C Fire Scout achieved 11 hours with over an hour of fuel in reserve. The long […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-demonstrates-endurance-on-the-mq-8c-fire-scout-65168/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout simultaneously with the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter for the first time. The capability demonstrates how a mix of aircraft can increase a ship commander’s intelligence-gathering capabilities aboard the Littoral Combat Ship. The flight tests took place May 12, aboard the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fire-scout-uav-seahawk-tested-on-lcs-1-59885/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman will build five additional U.S. Navy MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters, which allow ship commanders to extend their intelligence-gathering capabilities far beyond the horizon. Final assembly of the aircraft will take place at the company’s Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss. The MQ-8C is based on a larger helicopter airframe that provides […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-to-build-five-more-mq-8c-fire-scouts-for-the-us-navy-59265/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy after completing final assembly at the company’s unmanned systems center in Moss Point, Miss. The aircraft is joining the first one delivered to Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., to conduct flight testing before using the system for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-delivers-additional-mq-8c-fire-scout-to-the-us-navy-49757/

DefenceTalkThe Navy’s newest variant of the Fire Scout unmanned helicopter completed its first day of flying Oct. 31 at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu. At 12:05 p.m. PDT the MQ-8C Fire Scout took off and flew for seven minutes in restricted airspace to validate the autonomous control systems. The second flight that took […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navys-new-fire-scout-unmanned-helicopter-takes-its-first-flight-49550/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy got its first look at the upgraded MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned system when Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered its first MQ-8C system this month. Northrop Grumman is the Navy’s prime contractor for the MQ-8 Fire Scout program of record. The company delivered the first MQ-8C aircraft to the Navy in early July […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-upgraded-mq-8c-fire-scout-delivered-to-us-navy-48544/