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Northrop Grumman, US Navy Conduct Simultaneous Helicopter Flight Tests Aboard the LCS.
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Naval Defense Industry News - USA |
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Northrop Grumman, US Navy Conduct Successful Simultaneous Manned, Unmanned
Helicopter Flight Tests Aboard the Littoral Combat Ship |
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Northrop Grumman Corporation 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 USS
Freedom (LCS 1). |
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 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 12, 2014) An MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 prepares to land on the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) during visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training off the coast of Southern California. The training marked the first time a littoral combat ship, an MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter and an SH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter conducted integrated VBSS training. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tim D. Godbee/Released) |
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The flight
tests took place May 12, aboard the USS Freedom (LCS 1) off the coast
of San Diego. Fire Scout complements the Sea Hawk because it can fly
longer to maintain constant surveillance on a target or area of interest. "Utilizing the Fire Scout in operational maritime scenarios with manned aircraft will prove to be a unique asset to our fleet," said Capt. Patrick Smith, Fire Scout program manager. "The sensors of the Fire Scout are providing complimentary situational awareness and precision targeting support for the MH-60R Sea Hawk and Littoral Combat Ships." |
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U.S. Navy video |
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The
MQ-8B Fire Scout is designed to take off autonomously and land from any
aviation-capable warship. It has the endurance to fly for five hours and
has logged more than 12,500 flight hours from land and sea. "Fire Scout is giving our warfighters enhanced persistent situational awareness," said George Vardoulakis, vice president, medium range tactical systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "Fire Scout systems are providing critical information to the pilots of the MH-60R Sea Hawk and the sailors of the Littoral Combat Ship to ensure that they are protected from maritime threats." The MQ-8B Fire Scout is on its eighth at-sea deployment supporting a variety of surveillance and security missions onboard Navy frigates. The system also completed a two-year mission providing ground commanders intelligence-gathering capabilities in Afghanistan. |
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