The US Navy (USN) has declared initial operating capability (IOC) for the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the service announced on 8 July.
With IOC declared, the MQ-8C Fire Scout will make its first LCS deployment in FY 2021. (US Navy)
The milestone, which was reached on 28 June, comes about six years after flight trials were commenced in mid-2013 and clears the way for fleet operations and training for the unmanned sensor platform.
With IOC now declared, the MQ-8C will soon join its smaller MQ-8B Fire Scout-stablemate aboard the USN’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)-class vessels. The first such MQ-8C deployment is set for fiscal year 2021.
Developed to provide an enhanced capability compared with the smaller MQ-8B that is based on the Schweizer Aircraft 330 helicopter, the Bell 407-based MQ-8C features improved sensors, has a range of about 150 n miles, endurance of 12 hours, and a payload capacity of more than 317 kg.
The USN’s total planned Fire Scout inventory is 30 Schweizer Aircraft 330-based MQ-8Bs and 38 MQ-8Cs. These 68 air vehicles will include 59 that are production funded, and nine that are research, development, test, and evaluation funded.
As noted by the USN, the MQ-8C has flown more than 1,500 hours with in excess of 700 sorties to date. Over the next few years, Northrop Grumman will continue MQ-8C production deliveries to the Navy to complete a total of 38 aircraft.
It will deploy with LCS vessels in FY 2021 while the MQ-8B conducts operations aboard LCS vessels in the 5th and 7th Fleets.
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