15-Aug-2023Source: US Navy
The MQ-8C Fire Scout, a variant of the MQ-8B, is an unmanned aerial vehicle used for expeditionary operations aboard ships. The Navy’s only unmanned helicopter, which can be deployable from land or sea, provides target-acquisition, real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to the men and women of the US Navy and Marine Corps. In 2015, Naval... Read more
24-Feb-2023Source: US Navy
The “Sea Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 conducted their final flight on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, almost 16 years after their first flight in 2006. As one of the squadrons located on the “seawall” of Naval Station Norfolk, HSC-22 operated the MH-60S helicopter, the Navy’s multi-mission, rotary-wing helicopter, as well as the... Read more
19-Nov-2018Source: Telephonics Corporation
Telephonics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF), announced today that it has been awarded an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) valued at $23.5M to supply their AN/ZPY-4 maritime and overland surveillance radar system for use on the U.S. Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle... Read more
8-Dec-2017Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) autonomous Fire Scout helicopters, the MQ-8B and MQ-8C, continued to strengthen the combat capability and lethality of the U.S. Navy’s air and surface warfare communities throughout 2017. The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman enhanced Fire Scout’s capability, concepts of operations (CONOPS) and mission sets by demonstrating targeting capabilities at-sea, over... Read more
24-May-2017Source: US Navy
The “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 made history this month, operating MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) from Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) San Clemente Island utilizing a Mobile Mission Control Station (MMCS). Teams of pilots, aircrewmen, maintenance personnel and civilian specialists functioned organically to complete integrated missions with various surface... Read more
7-Oct-2016Source: US Navy
The “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 made history Sept. 14 when they used a MQ-8B unmanned air system as a laser designator platform for a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter to fire a AGM-114N Hellfire missile. For the mission, the MH-60S launched from Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, while the Northrup Grumman MQ-8B... Read more
10-Mar-2016Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Systems, San Diego, California, is being awarded $7,280,560 for cost-plus-fixed-fee task order 1269 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) in support of the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned aircraft systems. This test support effort for the MQ-8C includes software verification; software regression; cybersecurity; dynamic interface; and other requirements in preparation... Read more
10-Mar-2016Source: US DoD
L-3 Communications, Communication Systems–West, Salt Lake City, Utah, is being awarded $11,402,168 for modification PO0023 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-2024) to exercise an option to procure eight AN/SRQ-4 Common Data Link Hawklink systems in support of the MH-60R and Fire Scout programs. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (60 percent);... Read more
13-Jan-2016Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Systems, San Diego, California, is being awarded an $8,021,113 modification to a previously issued cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0023) to exercise an option for software sustainment services in support of MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft systems. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (90 percent); and Point Mugu, California (10 percent), and... Read more
15-Apr-2015Source: Sea Power
The larger version of the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has completed 297 test sorties and is slated to begin initial operational testing and evaluation in 2016, the Navy program manager said April 13. See Full Story... Read more
24-Feb-2015Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is being awarded a $25,848,612 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for engineering sustainment and integrated logistics services in support of MQ-8 operational, vendor, maintenance-related and laboratory support software. Services to be provided include analysis of engineering change proposals, development of plans of action and milestones, laboratory facility studies and analysis,... Read more
17-Dec-2014Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Coast Guard, in conjunction with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Navy, flew the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter off the national security cutter (NSC), USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750), Dec. 5 off the coast of Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. The MQ-8B Fire Scout was controlled and operated from a Fire Scout... Read more
4-Dec-2014Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has delivered the first operational MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy. The system will be used by ship-based commanders to improve the Navy’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=29441. The MQ-8C is an upgraded version of the existing MQ-8B Fire Scout using... Read more
27-Oct-2014Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully completed precision sloped landing tests Aug. 27 with the MQ-8C Fire Scout at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, in preparation for at-sea testing. MQ-8C Fire Scout has been undergoing rigorous flight testing and validation, which will culminate in the actual takeoff and landing on the deck of a Navy... Read more
30-Jun-2014Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, California, is being awarded an $8,465,734 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-12-C-0126) for the extension of engineering and software sustainment services in support of the Vertical Take-off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Fire Scout MQ-8B. Work will be performed in San Diego, California,... Read more
19-Jun-2014Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the U.S. Navy demonstrated a new multimode maritime surveillance radar on the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter that will drastically enhance long-range imaging and search capabilities for Navy commanders. Warfighters will now have the latest in radar technology to pair with their current electro-optical infrared payload. Integrating this new... Read more
12-Jun-2014Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) 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. A video is available on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOZDG7Uk_PY.... Read more
6-Apr-2014Source: US Navy
Artisans at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Detachment (DET) Mayport are diligently overhauling several MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Take-Off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (VTUAV) to meet the deployment needs of the fleet. The U.S. Navy currently has an inventory of 23 Fire Scouts based at Webster Field Annex, Naval Air Station Patuxent River,... Read more
27-Jan-2014Source: US DoD
L-3 Corp. Systems West, Salt Lake City, Utah, is being awarded a $17, 611,443 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-13-D-0001) for supplies and services associated with Surface Terminal Equipment for Hawklink Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) and the Littoral Combat Ship configurations, and the Vortex Mini-TCDL Shipset components. These supplies and services... Read more
28-Nov-2013Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $13,857,607 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for logistics services in support of the MQ-8B/C Fire Scout unmanned air vehicle. This work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md. (70 percent), and Pt. Mugu, Calif. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2014.... Read more
19-Aug-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter surpassed 5,000 flight hours while providing critical surveillance capabilities to field commanders in Afghanistan. Since deploying to Afghanistan in 2011, the MQ-8 Fire Scout system has provided real-time airborne surveillance and targeting supporting counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs), provided targeting support and delivered real-time video to... Read more
14-Aug-2013Source: US Navy
Helicopter Strike Maritime Squadron (HSM) 46, Det. 9 recently surpassed the MQ-8B Fire Scout’s previous monthly flight hour record while performing operations at sea aboard USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58). In June, four Fire Scouts that embarked on the frigate flew 333 flight hours, exceeding the unmanned helicopter’s previously monthly operational flight time record... Read more
13-Mar-2013Source: U.S. Navy
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... Read more
9-Jan-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), under contract to the U.S. Navy, has selected Telephonics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF), Long Island, N.Y., to provide a multimode maritime radar system for the Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. A $33 million contract was awarded to provide the... Read more
7-Oct-2012Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $24,476,978 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-10-G-0003) for spare parts and supplies in support of the MQ-8B vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (36 percent), Horseheads, N.Y. (30 percent);... Read more
28-Sep-2012Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $28,126,043 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for software sustainment, non-recurring engineering support and obsolescence efforts including future growth software development for the vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle Fire Scout MQ-8B. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (90 percent), and Patuxent River Naval Air... Read more
9-May-2012Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $25,709,758 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-07-C-0041) to purchase three Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicles Lot 5 low rate initial production and one ground control station. Work will be performed in Moss Point, Miss.... Read more
11-Apr-2012Source: US Navy
The Navy recently experienced two unrelated operational mishaps with the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. There were no injuries to personnel and no damage to other aircraft. On March 30, an MQ-8B Fire Scout operating off USS Simpson (FFG-56) was ditched at sea upon returning from a maritime surveillance mission in support of Africa Partnership... Read more
6-Apr-2012
MQ-8B operating in northern Afghanistan crashed while conducting a routine surveillance mission in support of Regional Command North.... Read more
30-Mar-2012
MQ-8B Fire Scout operating off USS Simpson (FFG-56) was ditched at sea upon returning from a maritime surveillance mission in support of Africa Partnership Station. The air vehicle was unable to achieve UAS Common Automated Recovery System (UCARS) lock on, a requirement for landing aboard a ship at sea. After multiple approaches and exhaustive troubleshooting... Read more
16-Mar-2012Source: GE Aviation
GE Aviation has been awarded a contract by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to provide a stores management system for the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. The contract includes the installation, engineering, manufacturing and data development of GE’s Stores and Payload Controller (SPC) used to control Fire Scout’s new weapons system. “The stores and payload controller... Read more
20-Jan-2012Source: US Navy
The MQ-8B Fire Scout, the Navy’s only unmanned aircraft to operate on land and at sea departed Jan.17 from Mayport, Fla., aboard USS Simpson (FFG 56) for a six-month deployment to western Africa. Personnel from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 60 Detachment 4 and Northrop Grumman took Fire Scout on its third at-sea deployment aboard... Read more
7-Dec-2011Source: US Navy
Just in time for the holidays, a member from Fire Scout Detachment Alpha returned here after an eight-month deployment in Afghanistan. Lt. Cmdr. Tom Williams, Alpha detachment’s assistant officer in charge, returned to Pax River mid-November after supporting Fire Scout’s first land-based deployment. Williams is not a returning individual augmentee, rather he is a Navy... Read more
9-Nov-2011Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) Fire Scout unmanned helicopter has improved ground commanders’ ability to see potential threats and increase fighting effectiveness in Afghanistan – prompting the U.S. Navy to extend the system’s service through most of next year. A team of U.S. Navy sailors and Northrop Grumman employees began their mission in May to gather... Read more
9-Nov-2011Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation has started work outfitting the U.S. Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter with a weapons system. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System laser-guided 70mm rocket — in production for the Navy since 2010 — will allow ship commanders to identify and engage hostile targets without calling in other aircraft for support. “By... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: Flightglobal
Northrop was recently awarded a $1 million contract to integrate a payload called Twister on the MQ-8B – but the notice did not identify what specific function the Twister payload performs. (see full story)... Read more
4-Oct-2011Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $18,650,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services in support of the deployment of the MQ-8B vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle. Work will be performed in Afghanistan (90 percent) and Patuxent River, Maryland (10 percent), and is expected to be completed... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: US Navy
The Navy reached a milestone in its quest to gain energy independence today, when an MQ-8B Fire Scout successfully flew the first unmanned biofueled flight at Webster Field in St. Inigoes, Md. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Directorate piloted the helicopter fueled with a combination of JP-5 aviation fuel and plant-based camelina. The biofuel blend... Read more
30-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems Unmanned Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $7,550,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-10-G-0003) for software sustainment services in support of the MQ-8B vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle. Services to be provided include analysis of engineering change proposals; development... Read more
23-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $17,098,027 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Rapid Deployment Capability Weaponization Program in support of the Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle MQ-8B Fire Scout System. This contract includes the installation, engineering, manufacturing, and data development of the weapons systems, which include 12 Stores... Read more
2-Sep-2011Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $10,474,708 cost plus fixed fee contract for logistics in support of the Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) MQ-8B Fire Scout system. Logistic support services includes: logistics management, maintenance support, supply support, air vehicle transportation, training services, logistics management information, technical... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Northrop Grumman
The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was credited with providing critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support to special operations forces and U.S. Navy anti-piracy actions during the system’s second at-sea deployment. Two Fire Scout air vehicles were deployed aboard the USS Halyburton (FFG 40) at the beginning of... Read more
19-Jul-2011Source: Southern Maryland News
A report compiled by Michael Gilmore, director of the Pentagon’s Operational Test and Evaluation office for Navy and members of Congress, states that the MQ-8B Fire Scout’s data link to its ground operators is so fragile that it frequently causes delayed and scratched flights. Other information includes the fact that just a tap of the... Read more
21-Jun-2011
The UAV was delivering intelligence data from about 5,000-7,000 ft. as expected, and there was no immediate sign of a command and control problem or mechanical malfunction, a program source says. This may mean it was shot down.... Read more
17-Jun-2011Source: US Navy
The Navy’s Fire Scout is proving its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability during its first land-based deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The Fire Scout, managed by Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems program office (PMA-266), deployed in late April to CENTCOM in response to a DoD ISR... Read more
3-Jun-2011Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will highlight its industry-leading global security capabilities at the Paris International Air Show, including unmanned aircraft systems, defence electronics and performance-based logistics. The 49th Paris International Air Show will take place at Le Bourget, Paris, from 20-26 June 2011. Northrop Grumman will participate in a series of media briefings during the... Read more
21-Apr-2011Source: US Navy
The Navy’s Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicle system is about to begin its first land-based deployment to U.S. Central Command this month. The Fire Scout effort is led by the Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air System program office, PMA-266, at Patuxent River, Md. In response to an urgent needs requirement from DoD’s... Read more
15-Apr-2011Source: Northrop Grumman
The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle marked a new single-day flight record of 18 hours. U.S. Navy operators achieved the record using a single aircraft in a series of endurance flights Feb. 25 from the USSÂ Halyburton (FFG 40). Fire Scout is providing intelligence, surveillance and... Read more
24-Feb-2011Source: Northrop Grumman
The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) -built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) achieved a significant development milestone in November when it flew its first test flights from the U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship, USSÂ Freedom (LCS-1). The Navy conducted the activity, known as dynamic interface (DI) testing, off the coast... Read more
15-Dec-2010Source: Northrop Grumman
In preparation for deployment early next year, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Navy have verified that the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical unmanned aircraft system is functionally compatible with communications systems on board the USS Halyburton (FFG-40). This process, known as integration verification, cleared the way for Fire Scout to conduct bluewater – unrestricted... Read more
28-Oct-2010Source: Northrop Grumman
The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical unmanned aerial system (VUAS) has passed the 1,000 flight test hours milestone, attesting to its steady maturation as a key intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset for military forces. Northrop Grumman is the Navy’s Fire Scout prime contractor. To reach this milestone, the VUAS completed a number... Read more
20-Jul-2010Source: Northrop Grumman
With the support of the United States Navy, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and its industry partners (Sikorsky/Schweizer, Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, FLIR Systems, Cubic, Kearfott, Rockwell-Collins, General Electric, Sierra Nevada, Telephonics, and L-3 Communications) today successfully completed a rigorous set of flight demonstrations of the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical unmanned aerial system (VUAS) in the United Arab... Read more