Fire Scout Proves Its Value in Middle East Warzones | Aviation International News

Fire Scout Proves Its Value in Middle East Warzones

Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8 Fire Scout rotary-wing unmanned air vehicle is gearing up for a new at-sea deployment in January.

During 2012 the MQ-8B should get armament in the shape of the APKWS guided rocket, and probably a radar for maritime search also.

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

November 14, 2011

Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8 Fire Scout rotary-wing unmanned air vehicle is gearing up for a new at-sea deployment in January, sailing aboard the frigate USS Simpson as it moves closer to U.S. Navy operational evaluation next Spring. For the Fire Scout, 2011 has been an eventful year, including combat deployments to two theaters, a combat loss and the Navy’s first unmanned flight using biofuel, undertaken in late September with a JP-5/camelena-based fuel mix.

In August the frigate USS Halyburton completed a seven-month deployment during which it had embarked two MQ-8B Fire Scouts for operations alongside manned Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawks. During the cruise, the Fire Scouts of HSL-42 Det 2 undertook numerous missions, including anti-piracy duties and classified payload trials.

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