US Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron HSC 22 receives first unmanned helicopter MQ-8C.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 received their first unmanned helicopter MQ-8C Fire Scout on September 15, 2020, aboard Naval Station Norfolk.
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U.S. sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) monitor flight operations from the helicopter control tower as an MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter prepares to launch. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

HSC-22 marks the first East Coast squadron to operate all three systems to include the MH-60S Knighthawk, MQ-8B Firescout, and MQ-8C Firescout. The newly added capability of the MQ-8C combines the capabilities of the MQ-8B with the MH-60S Knighthawk to improve the Navy’s ability to investigate and target hostile surface contacts.

MQ-8B and C Fire Scout variants are designed for suitably equipped ship-based and land-based autonomous systems. MQ-8B and C Firescout/MH-60S extend Naval Aviation’s capability to support distributed maritime operations providing integrated, over-the-horizon intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting, and combat logistics support. 

While the majority of the flight software in the MQ-8C Fire Scout is similar to the MQ-8B Fire Scout variant, the aircrews must adapt to the new capabilities of upgraded unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to include obtaining additional qualifications required for the maintenance team.

HSC-22’s mission is to provide manned and unmanned maritime attack and combat support capabilities to the fleet. HSC-22's inherent versatility provides full-spectrum warfighting support across multiple mission-sets and diverse and distributed platforms.

The MQ-8C Fire Scout is an unmanned helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Navy. The MQ-8C also has autonomous take-off and landing capability. It is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support and precision targeting support for ground, air and sea forces. 

The MQ-8C Fire Scoucan can be fitted with a wide range of payloads including a laser range finder (LRF), communication relay, electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor, and an automatic identification system (AIS). It can fly at a maximum speed of 135 k with a maximum cruising range of 1,227 nm. It can operate at an altitude of 16,000 ft and can endure for up to 12 hours.