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Drones & UAVsDevelopment testingProfile in progress
UAV helicopter
Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout is a uAV helicopter. It was built by Northrop Grumman Bell Helicopter. Reported operators include United States Navy.
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UAV helicopter
Northrop Grumman Bell Helicopter
Development testing
United States Navy
38
2019
2013
Bell 407 Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout
0
2,950 lb (1,338 kg)
34 ft 8 in (10.6 m)
10 ft 11 in (3.3 m)
6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
1 × Rolls-Royce 250-C47B , 813 shp (606 kW)
36 ft 7 in (11.2 m)
140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)
15 hours maximum
20,000 ft (6,100 m)
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout (known as the Fire-X during development) is an unmanned helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the United States Navy .
In March 2013, the Navy incorporated the Rolls-Royce 250-C47E engine into the MQ-8C for a 5 percent increase in hot and high power, 2 percent reduced fuel consumption, 8 percent increase in rated takeoff power, and better reliability. The Bell 407-based MQ-8C has an endurance of 12 hours, a range of 150 nmi (170 mi; 280 km), and a payload capacity of about 318 kg (701 lb). It has twice the endurance and three times the payload as the MQ-8B.
In September 2013, the MQ-8C Fire-X delivered to the Navy turned on its engines for 10 minutes in preparation for first flight. First flight was scheduled for early to mid-October, although the exact date was not determined, as such tests are often delayed by minor system problems. The MQ-8C flight test regime was for six months.
The MQ-8C Fire Scout first flew on 31 October 2013. It flew for 7 minutes in restricted airspace using autonomous controls at Naval Base Ventura County . It flew a second time hours later that day to an altitude of 500 ft. The MQ-8C was jointly operated by Northrop Grumman and the Navy. Northrop Grumman delivered the second MQ-8C in November 2013. They were under contract to build 14 helicopters.
In December 2014, the MQ-8C began testing aboard the destroyer Jason Dunham , executing 22 landings and recoveries in less than four hours. Testing was completed on 19 December, executing 32 takeoffs and recoveries over three flights. The MQ-8C will be ready to perform surface warfare missions in 2018 and mine countermeasure missions in 2020. The aircraft's first deployment is expected for 2016 to give Littoral Combat Ships a 50 nmi (58 mi; 93 km)-radius ISR capability.
In May 2016, NAVAIR signed a contract for the Osprey 30 lightweight AESA radar for the MQ-8C, the first system of its type to offer full spherical coverage with no moving parts. The 360-degree, 50 kg (110 lb) airborne radar uses fixed panels distributed around the body of aircraft, mounting antennas weighing just over 11 kg (24 lb) each. The radar is classified as the AN/ZPY-8 and will be retrofitted onto the Navy's MQ-8C's.
In December 2014, the first operational MQ-8C was delivered to the US Navy. Its final developmental flight was completed in April 2015, after 450 hours completed in 327 flights. In August 2015, Northrop Grumman demonstrated the MQ-8C's endurance with an 11-hour flight. In November 2015, the MQ-8C completed a 3-week operational assessment period to assess system performance, endurance, and reliability of the unmanned helicopter over 83.4 hours in 11 flights. To date, the aircraft logged 730 flight hours over 427 flights. Ship-based testing is expected to begin in 2017. In July 2018, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 concluded the initial operational test and evaluation of the MQ-8C, conducted aboard the USS Coronado .
Capacity: 2,950 lb (1,338 kg)
Length: 34 ft 8 in (10.6 m)
Length: 34 ft 8 in (10.6 m)
Height: 10 ft 11 in (3.3 m)
Height: 10 ft 11 in (3.3 m)
Max takeoff weight: 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce 250-C47B , 813 shp (606 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 36 ft 7 in (11.2 m)
Maximum speed: 140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)
Endurance: 15 hours maximum
Endurance: 15 hours maximum
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
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MQ-8C Fire Scout Northrop Grumman USA Helicopter Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unmanned 2009 10 As of May 2024, the Navy will end operational employment of the MQ-8C at the end of FY2024. Sundown will follow at the end of FY2026.
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2026 | 10.6 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| 28 Sept 2026 | 10.6 m | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 28 Sept 2026 | 10.3632 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| 28 Sept 2026 | 10.6 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.