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Naval Forces News - USA |
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Navy deploys USS Klakring with 4 MQ-8B Fire Scout UAVs to increase maritime
surveillance |
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Helicopter
Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 deployed with four Fire Scouts
aboard frigate USS Klakring (FFG 42) June 29 in support of operations
off the Horn of Africa.
With a record number of Fire Scouts aboard the guided missile frigate,
the Navy’s goal is to fly up to 12 hours a day and significantly
increase real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
support to combatant commanders.
“With each deployment, we are getting better and better at providing
a maritime ISR capability, taking lessons learned each time and making
improvements for future operations,” said Capt. Patrick Smith,
Fire Scout program manager at Pax River.
The history of HSL-42 and the MQ-8B dates back to 2008 when the detachment
retrofitted USS McInerney (FFG 8) to accommodate Fire Scout for its
first deployment. |
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Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 departs Mayport, Fla.
June 29 with four Fire Scout aboard USS Klakring (FFG 42). With a record
number of Fire Scouts aboard the ship, the Navy’s goal is to significantly
increase maritime surveillance support to combatant commanders.
(Picture:
U.S. Navy)
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Last year, HSL-42 deployed with two Fire Scouts and
an H-60 helicopter aboard USS Halyburton (FFG 40). During this deployment,
the detachment recorded more than 1,000 flight hours. Fire Scout flew
438 of those hours and set records for altitude range and endurance.
“This is our third deployment with HSL-42, who have become very
familiar with the system,” Smith added. “Now they have the
mission of flying two Fire Scouts simultaneously during operations,
allowing the ship's commander to keep a constant watch on a target of
interest.”
The Navy and industry partner Northrop Grumman first demonstrated this
capability in late 2011 and has since refined the techniques for use
aboard Klakring and all future operations. An operator will provide
commands to both air vehicles using a single-control station. The crew
can replace aircraft low on fuel during a mission without losing site
of the target.
“By having additional air vehicles aboard the ship and flying
dual operations, we will have the ability to provide an increased maritime
surveillance capability far greater than ever before with this unmanned
helicopter,” Smith said.
The six-month deployment aboard Klakring coincides with Fire Scout operations
in Afghanistan. Three MQ-8B aircraft have flown more than 2,500 hours,
providing full-motion video and imagery to troops in the field. The
Navy temporarily paused flights after a mishap in April, but operations
resumed later that month.
Source: US Naval Air Systems Command
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