U.S. Navy completes three-week assessment on MQ-8C Fire Scout
NewsNovember 30, 2015
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. On November 20 at Naval Base Ventura County at Pont Mugu, California, the MQ-8C Fire Scout completed a three-week operational assessment period.
To assess system performance, endurance, and reliability of the unmanned helicopter, the Fire Scout was tested against maritime and surveyed land targets. It consisted of 11 flights that totaled 83.4 flight hours
“MQ-8C is meeting or exceeding its performance objectives and will deliver greater warfighting capabilities to the fleet in the future,” says Capt Jeff Dodge, Fire Scout’s program manager for Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems.“The C model will greatly impact how we monitor, understand and control the sea and air space around small surface combatants,”
The Fire Scout has a range of 150 nautical miles with a payload capacity of more than 700 pounds, according to officials. The MQ-8C has logged to date 427 flights and more than 730 flight hours.
Initial ship-based testing is scheduled for 2017.
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