3-Feb-2023Source: SEA POWER
The U.S. Navy is operating and sustaining 10 MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), having place the rest in storage, from which the service can easily restore them to service. The Navy also has retired its fleet of smaller MQ-8B versions of the Fire. According to information provided by the Navy’s Program Executive Office for... Read more
22-Aug-2022Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) MQ-8C Fire Scout, the U.S. Navy’s autonomous, runway-independent helicopter system, successfully completed operations under the Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) concept, providing persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting (ISR&T) capabilities. A MQ-8C Fire Scout lands at San Clemente Island from Point Mugu during exercise Resolute Hunter demonstrating its Expeditionary... Read more
26-May-2022Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) MQ-8C Fire Scout, the U.S. Navy’s autonomous, runway-independent helicopter system, made its second operational deployment, and first deployment to the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility aboard USS Jackson (LCS-6) providing military commanders greater maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting (ISR&T) capability. “The MQ-8C Fire Scout is an extremely flexible unmanned... Read more
3-May-2022Source: US Navy
The Navy’s newest unmanned helicopter, the MQ-8C Fire Scout, completed operational integration training aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8), April 21. During two weeks of flight operations the unmanned helicopter attached to the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, performed various over-the-horizon intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance training missions using the... Read more
8-Jun-2021Source: Northrop Grumman
A Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) MQ-8C Fire Scout, the U.S. Navy’s only ship-based autonomous helicopter program, passes the initial fit check aboard the USS Anchorage (LPD-23) at Naval Base San Diego demonstrating the aircrafts’ suitability for the U.S. Marine Corps’ amphibious warfare mission. MQ-8C Fire Scout, which has integrated the AN/ZPY-8 radar, is expected... Read more
3-Feb-2021Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and UK-based Ultra (LSE: ULE) equipped a modified, manned Bell 407 (acting as an MQ-8C Fire Scout surrogate) platform with Ultra sonobuoys, receiver and processor to complete an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability demonstration. This successful demonstration of the UAS ASW mission on October 29 was the... Read more
21-Sep-2020Source: US Navy
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 received their first MQ-8C Firescout on Sept. 15 aboard Naval Station Norfolk.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 new added capability of the MQ-8C combines the capabilities of the MQ-8B with the MH-60S... Read more
10-Jul-2020Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Navy, with support from Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), commenced flight testing of the MQ-8C Fire Scout equipped with the Leonardo AN/ZPY-8 radar. “The AN/ZPY-8 radar significantly increases Fire Scout’s detection and tracking of targets. The ability to simultaneously employ multiple modes supports U.S. Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements,” said Melissa Packwood,... Read more
9-Sep-2019Source: CNATTU Norfolk
Instructors at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU), Norfolk completed their first MQ-8C Fire Scout pilot course using one of two new custom-built maintenance trainers Aug. 29. The addition of these brand-new facilities enables the Navy to provide much-needed training on the latest evolution of the Fire Scout. Over the summer, CNATTU... 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
18-Sep-2018Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) recently began flight tests for MQ-8C Fire Scout aircraft produced in Moss Point at the Trent Lott International Airport, a major milestone for the company and the region’s aerospace economy. Northrop Grumman’s Moss Point facility is key to producing and testing the MQ-8C Fire Scout, the U.S. Navy’s newest autonomous... Read more
11-Jul-2018Source: USS Coronado
USS Coronado (LCS 4) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VX-1) completed the first comprehensive Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for the MQ-8C Fire Scout, June 29.Results from this IOT&E will inform decision-makers on how best to integrate the Navy’s newest unmanned helicopter with littoral combat ships (LCS) and other platforms.During the IOT&E,... Read more
29-Jun-2018Source: USS Coronado
USS Coronado (LCS 4) began underway operational testing of the Navy’s newest unmanned helicopter, the MQ-8C Fire Scout, off the coast of San Diego, June 15.The operations are a continuation of MQ-8C operational testing that began in April. This next phase is testing the MQ-8C’s ability to operate concurrently with other airborne assets and littoral... 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
12-Apr-2017Source: US Navy
The Navy’s MQ-8C Fire Scout returned from USS Montgomery (LCS-8) April 11 after completing initial testing aboard a littoral combat ship. The Fire Scout test team along with Navy Sailors (aboard the USS Montgomery) conducted dynamic interface testing to verify the MQ-8C launch and recovery procedures and test interoperability between the unmanned helicopter and the ship.... Read more
21-Oct-2016Source: Leonardo
Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s Osprey AESA radar has been picked to serve as look-out on-board the US Navy’s newly-upgraded unmanned helicopter, the MQ-8C Fire Scout. The helicopter will be launched from the decks of US naval combat vessels to keep watch for distant threats. The contract will see Leonardo delivering an initial batch of 5 radars to the... Read more
12-Oct-2016Source: HeliHub.com
A $3.3 million contract has been awarded to Bell Helicopter to further investigations on the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout UAS. The US Naval Air Systems (NAVAIR) has awarded this money in the hopes to research more into the potential of future flight strain, tail boom cracking and fatigue on the craft. HIS Janes has... Read more
3-Oct-2016Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is set to build 10 additional MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters for the U. S. Navy, giving maritime commanders persistent, real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). The additional build will bring the total number of MQ-8C Fire Scout air vehicles procured to 29, extending the range and endurance of naval operations.... Read more
6-Apr-2016Source: Cubic
Cubic Global Defense (CGD), a business unit of Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB), announced that a Cubic designed and produced Wide Band Line of Sight (WBLOS) data link system integrated into Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) MQ-8C Fire Scout recently completed a successful operational assessment. Fire Scout is a combat proven, unmanned helicopter system that provides real-time... Read more
24-Jan-2016Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Systems, San Diego, California, is being awarded an $8,171,523 modification P00002 to a previously issued cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0023) to exercise options for engines, program related engineering services, integrated logistics, and training in support of the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (90 percent);... Read more
7-Jan-2016Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Corp., Aerospace Systems, San Diego, California, is being awarded a $10,423,637 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for sustainment and logistics services in support of MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Services to be provided include systems and software engineering, training and integrated logistical support. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (90 percent) and Point... Read more
2-Dec-2015Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) completed a successful land-based operational assessment (OA) with the unmanned, autonomous helicopter MQ-8C Fire Scout, at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Nov. 20. The OA demonstrated the endurance and sensor integration capabilities on the new MQ-8C airframe. The Fire Scout collected real time data points during... Read more
27-Aug-2015Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully demonstrated endurance capabilities with the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. On a planned 10+ hour flight and range out to 150 nautical miles flight from Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu; the MQ-8C Fire Scout achieved 11 hours with over an hour of fuel in... Read more
19-Jun-2015Source: News
Future Royal Australian Navy vessels will almost certainly be equipped with both manned and remote unmanned choppers that will reduce risk and cost. See Full Story... Read more
12-Mar-2015Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded an $8,431,030 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0022) to exercise an option for delivery of one Bell 407 Analog Helicopter, and preservation and storage of seven aircraft in support of the endurance upgrade of the MQ-8C Fire Scout. Work will be performed in Ozark,... 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
5-Jan-2015Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully flew the MQ-8C Fire Scout system for the first time off the guided-missile destroyer, USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), Dec. 16, off the Virginia coast. After more than a year of land-based testing at Point Mugu, California, the MQ-8C Fire Scout grew its sea legs,... 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
7-May-2014Source: Northrop Grumman
In preparation for ship-board flights this spring, the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)-built MQ-8C Fire Scout will be tested for its ability to operate safely in the intense electromagnetic environment aboard U.S. Navy ships. The MQ-8C Fire Scout uses specially-designed cages, known as Faraday cages, to protect sensitive equipment on the aircraft from signal interference.... Read more
3-Apr-2014Source: US DoD
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $43,781,216 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-12-C-0059) for the production and delivery of five MQ-8 Firescout vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (VTUAV) and one ground control station in support of the VTUAV endurance upgrade rapid deployment capability effort.... Read more
14-Mar-2014Source: US Navy
US Navy has released a photo of an MQ-8C Fire Scout on runway after a test flight at Point Mugu, Calif., March 10. The unmanned helicopter surpassed 100 flight hours during this event and will continue to undergo testing at Point Mugu this year. In July, the Navy will conduct dynamic interface testing with the MQ-8C aboard USS Jason Dunham (DDG... Read more
13-Feb-2014Source: US Navy
The second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter conducts its first test flight Feb. 12 from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, Calif. The first aircraft completed its initial flight in October 2013 and has flown 66 hours to date. The MQ-8C air vehicle upgrade will provide longer endurance, range and greater payload capability than the MQ-8B,... 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
26-Nov-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has delivered the second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy after completing final assembly at the company’s unmanned systems center in Moss Point, Miss. The aircraft is joining the first one delivered to Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., to conduct flight testing before using the system... Read more
15-Nov-2013Source: US DoD
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, is being awarded an $8,266,644 firm-fixed-price contract for the manufacturing and delivery of three Bell 407 analog helicopters in support of the endurance upgrade of the vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle MQ-8C Fire Scout. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (52 percent); Mirabel, Canada... Read more
1-Nov-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully completed the first flight of the next-generation MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif. At 12:05 p.m. the MQ-8C Fire Scout took off and flew for seven minutes in restricted airspace to validate the autonomous control systems. A second flight that took... Read more
23-Sep-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) turned on the power to the U.S. Navy’s first MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter and rotated the aircraft’s four blades for the first time during initial ground testing and engine runs at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu, Calif., Sept. 20. Conducting initial engine runs of the aircraft allows engineers to... Read more
31-Jul-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Navy got its first look at the upgraded MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned system when Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) 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... Read more
13-Mar-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a contract valued at more than $71 million to produce six additional next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopters. 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... Read more
1-Feb-2013Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) received the first protective cage for its next-generation MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter that will store and shield the aircraft’s critical electronic components from strong electric fields and electromagnetic waves. A photo accompanying this release is available athttp://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=16944. Without the cage, electrical components inside the helicopter would be susceptible to lightning... Read more
28-Aug-2012Source: Cubic
Cubic Defense Applications (NYSE: CUB), a defense systems business of Cubic Corporation, received a $3.7 million contract from Northrop Grumman Corporation to produce a new multiband digital data link system for the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. The data link uses smaller and lighter components to do the mission-critical job of transferring full-motion video and... Read more
13-Aug-2012Source: Summit Aviation
Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup Company, announced they have been selected by Northrop Grumman to build Faraday Cages for their Fire Scout program. Summit Aviation will be responsible for procuring material and tooling, preparing manufacturing planning and quality documentations as well as performing the final assembly. The Faraday Cage is a subassembly that is installed... Read more
16-Jul-2012Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has established a new training facility for Fire Scout unmanned helicopter operators that offers improved flight simulators, hands-on aircraft maintenance and classroom instruction. Opened July 10 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., the Fire Scout Training Center will meet increasing demands for trained operators as the system is used more during... Read more
25-Apr-2012Source: Northrop Grumman
The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) to produce the next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopter using the Bell 407 airframe. The new variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity to ship commander’s intelligence-gathering efforts. According to a U.S. Department of Defense news release on contract awards released April 23, the company will produce... Read more
