Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout

MQ-8 Fire Scout
An MQ-8B Fire Scout completes first biofuel flight at Webster Field, September 2011
General information
TypeUAV helicopter
ManufacturerNorthrop Grumman
StatusRetired (RQ-8A, MQ-8B)
Primary userUnited States Navy
Number built30 (MQ-8B)[1]
History
Introduction date2009 (MQ-8B)[1]
First flight2000
Retired2022[2]
Developed fromSchweizer 330 and 333
VariantsSikorsky S-434
Developed intoNorthrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout

The Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout is an unmanned autonomous helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the United States Armed Forces.[3] The Fire Scout is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support and precision targeting support for ground, air and sea forces. The initial RQ-8A version was based on the Schweizer 330, while the enhanced MQ-8B was derived from the Schweizer 333. The larger MQ-8C Fire Scout variant is based on the Bell 407.

In February 2018, 23 MQ-8Bs were in service with the U.S. Navy.[4] The MQ-8B was retired from service in October 2022.[2]

  1. ^ a b Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout VTOL UAV completes first ship-based test period with US Navy Archived 2014-12-30 at the Wayback Machine - Navyrecognition.com, 23 December 2014
  2. ^ a b "Navy Is Sustaining 10 Operational MQ-8C Fire Scout UAVs; Rest in Storage". Seapower Magazine. 31 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Autonomous Fire Scout UAV Lands on Ship". Department of Defense. January 24, 2006. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  4. ^ Navy Evaluates Man-Machine Pairing with New Fire Scout Archived 2018-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. National Defense Magazine. 27 February 2018.