Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout

The Northrop Grumman MQ -8 Fire Scout is an unmanned four-blade helicopter, which is being developed in Rancho Bernardo, California for the U.S. armed forces. Northrop Grumman developed the Fire Scout to provide additional reconnaissance and attack capabilities to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

The original Swiss from the civilian American helicopter S -333 developed version was called RQ -8A. A further developed version of it in August 2003, called the RQ -8B, was developed by Northrop Grumman on their own, after the U.S. Navy had rejected the RQ -8A. Because of its multi-purpose capabilities it has now been renamed the MQ -8B. A developed for the U.S. Army version of the RQ -8B was provided as XM157 Class IV UAV for the Future Combat Systems. After canceling the FCS program by Defense Secretary Robert Gates in 2009, the project XM157 was finally stopped in January 2010. The U.S. Navy announced in September 2009 the first deployment of the MQ -8B aboard the USS McInerney.

Description

The drone MQ -8B has been modified so that it can be quickly converted for different purposes. The current sensor configuration with a day and night vision-capable tower and a laser range finder (LRF ) is still an option. Instead, a Synthetic Aperture Radar or a SIGINT to be mounted. The stub wings not only serve as flotation devices, it can also weapons or emergency care up to a maximum 317 kg suspended from it.

The first flight took place at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River on 18 December 2006. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy, the MQ -8B UAV plans for their new coastal ships (English Littoral Combat Ships ) use. The first flight with a BriteStar said payload in the form of a multi-sensor target acquisition system long range followed on August 9, 2008. Standard production is expected in 2009. The final version for the Future Combat System should continue to provide enhanced services, including a combat radius of up to 75 kilometers and takeoff and landing capability in rough terrain.

On June 21, 2011 An Operating from the USS Halyburton of MQ -8 was shot down over Libya (International military intervention in Libya 2011). He should monitor the no-fly zone.

Developments

On April 23, 2012 Northrop Grumman was tasked with the development of the MQ - 8C. When flying a Bell 407 platform is intended to be used, with avionics and data links shall be borne by the existing B variant. The U.S. Navy expects a more up to three times the flight time. The first flight took place at the Naval Base Ventura County on 31 October 2013.

Specifications

  • AGM-114 Hellfire ( rocket launcher )
  • AGM -175 Griffin ( air - to-ground missile )
  • APKWS
Allison Model 250 AGM-176 Griffin Honeywell XM156 Northrop Corporation Northrop Alpha Grumman G-21 Goose Grumman G-44 Widgeon Grumman G-73 Mallard Grumman Gulfstream I Grumman Gulfstream II Grumman AF Guardian Grumman TBF Avenger Northrop A-17 Northrop YA-9 SM-62 Snark Grumman HU-16 Albatross Grumman F3F Grumman JF Duck Grumman J2F Duck Grumman C-1 Trader Grumman FF Grumman E-1 Tracer Grumman F2F Northrop P-61 Black Widow Grumman F4F Wildcat Grumman F7F Tigercat Grumman F9F Panther Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet Northrop XP-79 Northrop F-89 Scorpion Grumman F-14 Tomcat Northrop YF-17 Northrop Grumman RQ-180 Grumman OV-1 Mohawk Grumman S-2 Tracker Northrop T-38 Talon Northrop HL-10 Northrop N-3PB Northrop N-9M Northrop Grumman Firebird Northrop Tacit Blue Northrop X-4 Bantam Northrop X-21 Grumman X-29 Northrop Grumman X-47B General Atomics MQ-1 Predator AAI RQ-2 Pioneer AAI RQ-7 Shadow General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper MMIST CQ-10 Snowgoose AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye DRS RQ-15 Neptune Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk AAI Corporation Aerosonde AeroVironment Global Observer Boeing Insitu ScanEagle
257538
de