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Naval
Defense Industry News - USA |
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Northrop
Grumman Delivers First MQ-8C Fire Scout VTOL UAV to U.S. Navy |
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The
U.S. Navy got its first look at the upgraded MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned
system when Northrop Grumman Corporation 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 in preparation for ground and flight
testing. |
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GULF OF MEXICO — After exceeding the 8,000-flight-hour mark Friday,
an MQ-8B Fire Scout assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 Detachment
5 prepares to land aboard USS Robert G. Bradley for a "hot pump"
and re-launch while conducting maritime intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the Mediterranean Sea March 11. Fire
Scouts aboard Bradley are routinely flying 17-hour days while providing
12 hours on station ISR coverage in the U.S. Africa Command area of
responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo)
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"The endurance upgrade doubles the time on
station of the MQ-8 system and will help reduce the workload for the
ship's crew by cutting the number of times the crew will need to be
in flight quarters," said George Vardoulakis, vice president, medium
range tactical systems for Northrop Grumman. "Ground and flight
testing are the next steps in meeting the urgent requirement for maritime
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Testing on the Naval
Air Systems Command test range provides us with extended air space to
conduct and demonstrate long endurance and systems testing in a maritime
environment."
The upcoming tests will be used to validate and mature the upgraded
MQ-8 system for operational use. Initial ground testing will ensure
that the systems work properly and communicate with the ground control
station prior to conducting first flight. The MQ-8 system with the upgraded
MQ-8C aircraft will share proven software, avionics, payloads and ship
ancillary equipment with the MQ-8B aircraft. |
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The Fire Scout endurance upgrade, designated the MQ-8C and based on
Bell Helicopter's 407, will provide ship commanders with increased range,
endurance and payload capacity over the current MQ-8B variant.
(Picture: Northrop Grumman)
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The upgraded
Fire Scout responds to an urgent need to provide the Navy with increased
endurance, range and payload. Using a modified commercially available
airframe, the upgraded MQ-8 system can provide commanders with three
times the payload and double the endurance at extended ranges compared
to the current MQ-8B variant.
The MQ-8B aircraft currently operates on Navy frigates and in Afghanistan,
where it provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities
to maritime and ground commanders.
The first deployment of the upgraded MQ-8 system with the MQ-8C Fire
Scout aircraft will be in 2014. |
