MQ–8 Fire Scout (MQ-8B/MQ-8C) | Info, RQ-8A, Budget/Costs, Specs

About the MQ-8 Fire Scout:

The Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout is an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) vertical take-off and landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV). The Fire Scout provides real-time ISR data to tactical users. The baseline MQ-8B can accomplish missions including over-the-horizon (OTH) tactical reconnaissance, classification, targeting and laser designation, and battle management (including communications relay).

The Fire Scout has a four-bladed rotor and is powered by a single Rolls-Royce M250-C20W turboshaft engine and launches and recovers vertically, and can operate from air-capable vessels such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), as well as confined area land bases. Interoperability is achieved through the use of Tactical Control System (TCS) software in the ground control station, and through the use of the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL).

The MQ-8B is capable of continuous operations providing coverage as much as 110 nautical miles (127 miles/204 km) from the launch site. The baseline configuration with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and a laser pointer/laser rangefinder, enables the Fire Scout to locate, track, and designate tactical targets in support of Navy strike platforms.

The MQ-8B was developed from the RQ-8A Fire Scout VUAS, which was based on the Schweizer Model 333 manned commercial helicopter. In February 2000, Northrop Grumman won the contract to develop the RQ-8A for the U.S. Navy under the VTUAV program. Low-rate initial production commenced in May 2001 and flight testing began the following year. In August 2005, the Fire Scout was redesignated from RQ-8 to MQ-8 to reflect its multi-role capability.

On April 23, 2012, Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract to build a minimum of 28 new MQ-8C Fire-X Endurance UAVs based on the Bell 407 airframe. The new 'C' variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity. Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman will produce a total of eight UAVs within an amount not to exceed $262 million. Final assembly of the new MQ-8C variant will take place at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Mississippi. The Navy plans to purchase the 28+ UAVs in the FY 2012-15 timeframe.

Armament/Weapons:

None.

Price/Unit Cost:

The unit cost of the MQ-8C is expected to be $18.2 million in FY 2013 (flyaway cost) of which the airframe makes up $10.3 million. In comparison, the MQ-8B had a unit cost of $10.81 million in FY 2011.

Program Cost:

The total procurement cost of the MQ-8 VTUAV program is estimated at $2.26 billion + $0.61 billion in research and development (RDT&E) funds, which means the total estimated program cost is $2.87 billion (numbers are aggregated annual funds spent over the life of the program and no price/inflation adjustment was made).

Mission/Role:

Provides real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data to tactical users without the use of manned aircraft. The MQ-8 locates, tracks, and designates tactical targets in support of Navy strike platforms. Also, the Fire Scout performs battle damage assessment missions.

FY 2012 DoD Program:

FY 12 funds twelve MQ-8 UAVs, training equipment, and associated support. The DoD will use the MQ-8 with an endurance upgrade to fill an interim Special Operating Forces (SOF) capability for a seabased UAS. Funding for this interim capability starts in FY 12 and supports fielded operations beginning in FY 14 until the Medium Range Maritime UAS can be developed and fielded to meet the full capablitiy required by SOF. The MQ-8 aircraft quantity supports LCS missions, SOF Missions, and other expeditionary demands. Procurement of seven Ship-based GCS are programmed in FY 2012 to align with LCS Mission Modules and to oufit five FFG ships to support SOF missions. This budget request also supports a CNO-directed 18 month Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) for the weaponization of the MQ-8 VTUAV.

FY 2013 DoD Program:

FY 2013 funds six MQ-8C Endurance Upgrade aircraft, ship ancillary equipment, training equipment, and associated support. These aircraft begin the inclusion of the radar payload and the Stores Management System. For more information, click to see the Complete FY 2013 MQ-8 Budget.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Northrop Grumman Corp.,
and Rolls-Royce plc