Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout: US Navy Helicopter UAV

CHECK OUT THE NAVY’S FIRST WEAPONIZED DRONE HELICOPTER

Image Courtesy Northrop Grumman

The military is already equipped with drones carrying weapons, but they don’t necessarily have the hover skills of a helicopter. Robotic helicopters also were generally too small to carry weapons. Now, the U.S. Navy will get the best of both worlds as it signed a $17 million deal with Northrop Grumman Corp., to weaponize the MQ-8B Fire Scout, which was already in use for surveillance missions without weapons in the Middle East.

This is the MQ-8B Fire Scout. An unmanned robotic helicopter that the Navy is having weaponized through Northrop Grumman. The Helicopter is capable of lifting 600 lbs and is equipped with an array of intelligence gather equipment such as range finders, data communications, that already make this UAV a powerful tactical advantage on the battle field. Now, with the aims of the Navy to equip it with weapons, it will be even more capable on the battle field, as it would be able to act on any intelligence it gathers.

reply to post by projectvxn


Neat (as long as it stay out at sea with the navy). It looks like its fairly easy to store on ship, which is so important when heading out to sea, how to fit it all in there. 600 pound life, 2 men or gear for 4-6 men, supplies water and food... not a ton of towing power but enough to make a difference to a select group. As for the weapons... it's as loud as a regular chopper so those would have to be highly precise weapons fire from a safe distance from enemy small arms and heavy weapons fire.

reply to post by Jason88


That's why I'm thinking this machine will be used far more for delivering equipment and supplies to Navy SEAL teams in the field, and close air support on high value raids.

Originally posted by projectvxn
reply to post by Jason88

 

That's why I'm thinking this machine will be used far more for delivering equipment and supplies to Navy SEAL teams in the field, and close air support on high value raids.

edit on 11-11-2011 by projectvxn because: (no reason given)

Perhaps. But weaponizing these things is the name of the game. Mere observing drones are passe these days. Why hand off the actual attack work to another craft when as with the Reaper, etc. you get both capabilities?

I see no air intakes or exhaust stack on this thing. Nor did I notice any jet engine sound. Is it electric?

The MQ 8 B is based on the schweizer 333 helicopter apparently.




Here is a schweizer 333 for comparison. It apparently uses an Allison Or Rolls Royce turbine for power. You can see the exhaust port in the manned version, but I honestly don't know if they kept the same engine when they built the fire scout.

Apparently they are talking about doing a bigger C model based off the Bell 407 airframe as well.
fire scout info