MQ-8B FIRE SCOUT

AEROSPACE SYSTEMS
STRIKE AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS DIVISION

Ver tical Takeof f and Landing

Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System

MQ-8B Fire Scout

Air Vehicle Specifications
United States Navy
Air Vehicle
Fuselage Length (with Dual Payload Nose):

23.95 ft (7.3 m)
Fuselage Width:

6.20 ft (1.9 m)
Length (with Blades Folded Forward):

30.03 ft (9.2 m)
Rotor Diameter:

27.50 ft (8.4 m)
Height (Top of Tail Antenna):

9.71 ft (2.9 m)
Gross Weight:

3,150 lbs (1428.8 kg)
Engine:

Rolls Royce 250-C20W

Turboshaft Engine
Speed:

115+ Knots
Ceiling:

20,000 ft (6.1 km)

9.71 ft

23.95 ft

27.50 ft

Endurance
Total Flight Time with Baseline Payload:

8+ Hours
Total Flight Time with EO/IR + Radar:

7+ Hours
Total Flight Time with Maximum Payload:

5+ Hours
Payloads

Operational Scenario
The Fire Scout VTUAV system is capable of
operating from any air-capable Navy ship and
will be primarily based aboard the Navys newest
surface combatant, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Fire Scout is a critical contributor to the ships
three primary missions: Anti-Submarine Warfare,
Surface Warfare, and Mine Warfare. Operational
concepts allow for the Fire Scout to transition
through multiple roles while it provides support
throughout the Joint Battle Space.
Through rapid reconfiguration facilitated by
modular payload architecture and defined interface
specifications, Fire Scout is able to adapt to the
mission at hand and provide real time ISR/T to the
operational commander. Fire Scout is the perfect
asset to detect and engage swarming boats,
ensure landing areas are clear for amphibious

craft, provide overhead communications relay, and conduct

intelligence gathering and targeting on relocatable targets.
As battlefield preparation continues and enemy forces are
engaged, the Fire Scout can provide Over-the-Horizon (OTH)
targeting for U.S.Navy ship-launched weapons or land-based
artillery to strike targets that are well beyond normal Lineof-Sight (LOS) sensors.
Fire Scout missions will be expanded through spiral
development of requirements and capabilities. These
would include maritime surveillance radar, signals and
communications intelligence gathering, magnetic anomaly
detectors, and satellite communications. The Fire Scout
VTUAV will provide additional capabilities as it increases the
number of payloads employed and will allow the operational
commander to dramatically augment his situational awareness
and responsiveness.

Star SAFIRE III

EO/IR/LRF

U.S. Navy
Baseline
EO/IR/LRF

Mine Detector

UHF/VHF
Comm Relay

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

STRIKE AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS DIVISION

P.O. Box 509066 San Diego California 92150-9066
w w w.nor thropgrumman.com/unmanned
Contact Info:
Brooks McKinney (310) 331-6610 Email: brooks.mckinney@ngc.com
Approved for Public Release Distribution Unlimited
NAVAIR 09-413 Dated 8 February 2010
Revised Cover: NAVAIR 10-604 Dated 28 April 2010
VM00-AS-4873_04_10

Maritime Radar

7.85 ft

MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV

Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System
Supplying Organic Intelligence and Targeting Capability in the Littoral Battle Space

Northrop Grummans Transformational Fire Scout Vertical

Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
system provides unprecedented situation awareness and
precision targeting support for U.S. Armed
Forces of the future. The MQ-8B Fire Scout
has the ability to autonomously take off and
land on any aviation-capable warship and at
prepared and unprepared landing zones in
proximity to the soldier in contact.
The Northrop Grumman VTUAV system is
based on a highly reliable civilian Commercial
Off The Shelf (COTS) helicopter. The advanced
ground control facilities encompass the
U.S. Navys Tactical Control System (TCS)
software developed for Navy ships, tactical
data links and communications relay
capability. A modular mission payload allows
continued growth for new sensors.
With a total vehicle endurance greater than
eight hours, the Fire Scout is capable of
continuous operations, providing coverage
110 nm (200 km) from the launch site.

The Fire Scout System enables U.S. Armed Forces operations to

be conducted with seamless control from ships or from land-based
control segments. Real-time data can be shared with Navy, Marines,
Army, and Homeland Security Forces and targeting data can be
provided to all Services potential shooters, reducing engagement
timelines and minimizing their exposure to enemy fire.

Command Information Center (CIC)

Navy
Control System
(CS)

Using a baseline payload that includes electrooptical/infrared sensors (EO/IR) and a laser range
finder/illuminator, the Fire Scout system can find,
identify, track and illuminate targets, provide
accurate targeting data to strike platforms,
and perform battle damage assessment.

Littoral
Combat Ship
(LCS)

Acting as a communications node within

the Joint C4ISR architecture, Fire Scout
will increase the effectiveness and flexibility
of other platforms. The Navy program
is managed by the U.S. Navys PMA-266
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Program Office at
Patuxent River, Maryland.

The MQ-8B Fire Scout

successfully completes
its first flight at Naval
Air Station Patuxent
River, MD. During this
test series, the vehicle
executed its missions
fully autonomously.

UCARS

Versatility Equals Capability

The Fire Scout System (STANAG Compliant) provides fully

autonomous operation of the air vehicle and payload with
the flexibility of a wide variety of override commands
available to the operators through the Control System (CS).
The CS also displays payload imagery, air vehicle status
and situational information to the operators. Payload
information can be disseminated via the C4I architecture
to GCCS-M and other C4I nodes.

Fully Autonomous Operations

December 18, 2006

Navy Manned-Unmanned Operations

No pilot in the loop required for launch

or recovery
Manual override capability
In flight mission plan update capability
Light Harpoon restraint system

All data is available through the signal entry panel,

including RS-170, RGB, Fiber Optics, Ethernet, ATM, FDDI
and Fiber Optic Ethernet. The CS houses an air vehicle
operator (AVO), a mission payload operator (MPO) and
a mission commander (MC).

Expanded flight envelope

Minimal impact on host ship operations
Minimal support personnel requirements

The Control System for Fire Scout in the Navy is

integrated into the Integrated Communication Center
(ICC) aboard Littoral Combat Ship. There are also versions
of this system that are constructed to be contained in
a roll on/roll off shelter or mounted on a High Mobility
Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) for land-based
and mobile operations.
The CS has the ability to perform pre-mission planning
for the air vehicle and payload. It can also upload new
missions real-time and perform override control of both
vehicle and payload.

Ready to Deliver

UHF/VHF (3)

The MQ-8B Fire Scout provides an unprecedented

ability to detect, identify, and target tactical threats
at sea or ashore. Fire Scouts ability to fly multiple
payloads such as radar and electro-optical/infrared
sensors allows downlink
of broad area surveillance
and target-specific full
motion video to decision
makers.
Electro-Optical
Image

Infrared Image

Force Multiplier...
The Fire Scout System allows for the full use of multiple
onboard sensors and payloads for Over the Horizon Targeting,
Communications Relay, Threat Detection, Intelligence Gathering,
Precision Strike Support and real time Battle Damage Assessment.

Fire Scout provides

continuous situational
awareness and proven
reliability, flexibility, and
maintainability. Already
on contract with the
U.S. Navy, Fire Scout
will dramatically expand
capacity to gather
intelligence and act with
devastating speed.

Folding Rotors

GPS Antenna (1)

Flight Control Actuators

Fuel Tank

System Requirements

Meeting the Armed Forces System Needs

Autonomous operations from all air-capable ships

>8 hours continuous system on station coverage
Ceiling and airspeed: 20,000 ft, 115+ kts
>5 hours on station time (single vehicle) at 110 nm
Interoperability through Tactical Control System (TCS)
software and STANAG 4586 Compliance

Providing organic Intelligence, Surveillance,

Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR/T) capabilities
Provides Over The Horizon (OTH) targeting
Provides real-time Battle Damage Assessment
Implements network centric warfare concepts with
communications relay capability
Defense IT Standard Registry/Joint Technical Architecture
(DIST/JTA) compliant
Fully interoperable between land and sea-based Tactical
Control Systems

Payload Features

Modular Mission Payloads (MMP)

Plug and play product
Baseline MMP capability
EO/IR laser range finder illuminator
Voice/data communication relay
600 pound payload lift capacity
Growth payloads
Tactical Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR/MTI),
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), Traffic Collision
Avoidance System (TCAS), SATCOM, Sonobuoy
delivery, expendables employment, threat
countermeasures, mine detection, etc...

GPS Antenna (2)

Tactical
Common
Datalink
Antenna (1)
Shielded Avionics
Compartment

Radar Altimeter Antenna (1)

UHF/VHF Antenna (1)
Radar Altimeter Antenna (2)
Engine Intake Barrier Filter
Turboshaft Engine

Legacy of High Reliability

Based on a Schweizer Aircraft commercial airframe with

over 20 million flight hours, the Fire Scout vehicle
incorporates reliable turbine power (160 million flight hours)
using standard NATO heavy fuel. Leveraging from this FAA
certified aircraft with commonality of over 50 percent of the
mechanical parts, the servicing and logistical processes are
well known, proven and documented. This low risk approach
for the airframe allows effective maturation of the entire
system within a short development schedule.

UHF/VHF
Antenna (2)

Tactical Common Datalink Antenna (2)

UCARS
Antenna

Light Harpoon Landing Restraint System

Modular Mission Payload

(EO/IR Laser Pointer and Range Finder)

MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV

Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System
Supplying Organic Intelligence and Targeting Capability in the Littoral Battle Space

Northrop Grummans Transformational Fire Scout Vertical

Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
system provides unprecedented situation awareness and
precision targeting support for U.S. Armed
Forces of the future. The MQ-8B Fire Scout
has the ability to autonomously take off and
land on any aviation-capable warship and at
prepared and unprepared landing zones in
proximity to the soldier in contact.
The Northrop Grumman VTUAV system is
based on a highly reliable civilian Commercial
Off The Shelf (COTS) helicopter. The advanced
ground control facilities encompass the
U.S. Navys Tactical Control System (TCS)
software developed for Navy ships, tactical
data links and communications relay
capability. A modular mission payload allows
continued growth for new sensors.
With a total vehicle endurance greater than
eight hours, the Fire Scout is capable of
continuous operations, providing coverage
110 nm (200 km) from the launch site.

The Fire Scout System enables U.S. Armed Forces operations to

be conducted with seamless control from ships or from land-based
control segments. Real-time data can be shared with Navy, Marines,
Army, and Homeland Security Forces and targeting data can be
provided to all Services potential shooters, reducing engagement
timelines and minimizing their exposure to enemy fire.

Command Information Center (CIC)

Navy
Control System
(CS)

Using a baseline payload that includes electrooptical/infrared sensors (EO/IR) and a laser range
finder/illuminator, the Fire Scout system can find,
identify, track and illuminate targets, provide
accurate targeting data to strike platforms,
and perform battle damage assessment.

Littoral
Combat Ship
(LCS)

Acting as a communications node within

the Joint C4ISR architecture, Fire Scout
will increase the effectiveness and flexibility
of other platforms. The Navy program
is managed by the U.S. Navys PMA-266
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Program Office at
Patuxent River, Maryland.

The MQ-8B Fire Scout

successfully completes
its first flight at Naval
Air Station Patuxent
River, MD. During this
test series, the vehicle
executed its missions
fully autonomously.

UCARS

Versatility Equals Capability

The Fire Scout System (STANAG Compliant) provides fully

autonomous operation of the air vehicle and payload with
the flexibility of a wide variety of override commands
available to the operators through the Control System (CS).
The CS also displays payload imagery, air vehicle status
and situational information to the operators. Payload
information can be disseminated via the C4I architecture
to GCCS-M and other C4I nodes.

Fully Autonomous Operations

December 18, 2006

Navy Manned-Unmanned Operations

No pilot in the loop required for launch

or recovery
Manual override capability
In flight mission plan update capability
Light Harpoon restraint system

All data is available through the signal entry panel,

including RS-170, RGB, Fiber Optics, Ethernet, ATM, FDDI
and Fiber Optic Ethernet. The CS houses an air vehicle
operator (AVO), a mission payload operator (MPO) and
a mission commander (MC).

Expanded flight envelope

Minimal impact on host ship operations
Minimal support personnel requirements

The Control System for Fire Scout in the Navy is

integrated into the Integrated Communication Center
(ICC) aboard Littoral Combat Ship. There are also versions
of this system that are constructed to be contained in
a roll on/roll off shelter or mounted on a High Mobility
Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) for land-based
and mobile operations.
The CS has the ability to perform pre-mission planning
for the air vehicle and payload. It can also upload new
missions real-time and perform override control of both
vehicle and payload.

Ready to Deliver

UHF/VHF (3)

The MQ-8B Fire Scout provides an unprecedented

ability to detect, identify, and target tactical threats
at sea or ashore. Fire Scouts ability to fly multiple
payloads such as radar and electro-optical/infrared
sensors allows downlink
of broad area surveillance
and target-specific full
motion video to decision
makers.
Electro-Optical
Image

Infrared Image

Force Multiplier...
The Fire Scout System allows for the full use of multiple
onboard sensors and payloads for Over the Horizon Targeting,
Communications Relay, Threat Detection, Intelligence Gathering,
Precision Strike Support and real time Battle Damage Assessment.

Fire Scout provides

continuous situational
awareness and proven
reliability, flexibility, and
maintainability. Already
on contract with the
U.S. Navy, Fire Scout
will dramatically expand
capacity to gather
intelligence and act with
devastating speed.

Folding Rotors

GPS Antenna (1)

Flight Control Actuators

Fuel Tank

System Requirements

Meeting the Armed Forces System Needs

Autonomous operations from all air-capable ships

>8 hours continuous system on station coverage
Ceiling and airspeed: 20,000 ft, 115+ kts
>5 hours on station time (single vehicle) at 110 nm
Interoperability through Tactical Control System (TCS)
software and STANAG 4586 Compliance

Providing organic Intelligence, Surveillance,

Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR/T) capabilities
Provides Over The Horizon (OTH) targeting
Provides real-time Battle Damage Assessment
Implements network centric warfare concepts with
communications relay capability
Defense IT Standard Registry/Joint Technical Architecture
(DIST/JTA) compliant
Fully interoperable between land and sea-based Tactical
Control Systems

Payload Features

Modular Mission Payloads (MMP)

Plug and play product
Baseline MMP capability
EO/IR laser range finder illuminator
Voice/data communication relay
600 pound payload lift capacity
Growth payloads
Tactical Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR/MTI),
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), Traffic Collision
Avoidance System (TCAS), SATCOM, Sonobuoy
delivery, expendables employment, threat
countermeasures, mine detection, etc...

GPS Antenna (2)

Tactical
Common
Datalink
Antenna (1)
Shielded Avionics
Compartment

Radar Altimeter Antenna (1)

UHF/VHF Antenna (1)
Radar Altimeter Antenna (2)
Engine Intake Barrier Filter
Turboshaft Engine

Legacy of High Reliability

Based on a Schweizer Aircraft commercial airframe with

over 20 million flight hours, the Fire Scout vehicle
incorporates reliable turbine power (160 million flight hours)
using standard NATO heavy fuel. Leveraging from this FAA
certified aircraft with commonality of over 50 percent of the
mechanical parts, the servicing and logistical processes are
well known, proven and documented. This low risk approach
for the airframe allows effective maturation of the entire
system within a short development schedule.

UHF/VHF
Antenna (2)

Tactical Common Datalink Antenna (2)

UCARS
Antenna

Light Harpoon Landing Restraint System

Modular Mission Payload

(EO/IR Laser Pointer and Range Finder)

MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV

Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System
Supplying Organic Intelligence and Targeting Capability in the Littoral Battle Space

Northrop Grummans Transformational Fire Scout Vertical

Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
system provides unprecedented situation awareness and
precision targeting support for U.S. Armed
Forces of the future. The MQ-8B Fire Scout
has the ability to autonomously take off and
land on any aviation-capable warship and at
prepared and unprepared landing zones in
proximity to the soldier in contact.
The Northrop Grumman VTUAV system is
based on a highly reliable civilian Commercial
Off The Shelf (COTS) helicopter. The advanced
ground control facilities encompass the
U.S. Navys Tactical Control System (TCS)
software developed for Navy ships, tactical
data links and communications relay
capability. A modular mission payload allows
continued growth for new sensors.
With a total vehicle endurance greater than
eight hours, the Fire Scout is capable of
continuous operations, providing coverage
110 nm (200 km) from the launch site.

The Fire Scout System enables U.S. Armed Forces operations to

be conducted with seamless control from ships or from land-based
control segments. Real-time data can be shared with Navy, Marines,
Army, and Homeland Security Forces and targeting data can be
provided to all Services potential shooters, reducing engagement
timelines and minimizing their exposure to enemy fire.

Command Information Center (CIC)

Navy
Control System
(CS)

Using a baseline payload that includes electrooptical/infrared sensors (EO/IR) and a laser range
finder/illuminator, the Fire Scout system can find,
identify, track and illuminate targets, provide
accurate targeting data to strike platforms,
and perform battle damage assessment.

Littoral
Combat Ship
(LCS)

Acting as a communications node within

the Joint C4ISR architecture, Fire Scout
will increase the effectiveness and flexibility
of other platforms. The Navy program
is managed by the U.S. Navys PMA-266
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Program Office at
Patuxent River, Maryland.

The MQ-8B Fire Scout

successfully completes
its first flight at Naval
Air Station Patuxent
River, MD. During this
test series, the vehicle
executed its missions
fully autonomously.

UCARS

Versatility Equals Capability

The Fire Scout System (STANAG Compliant) provides fully

autonomous operation of the air vehicle and payload with
the flexibility of a wide variety of override commands
available to the operators through the Control System (CS).
The CS also displays payload imagery, air vehicle status
and situational information to the operators. Payload
information can be disseminated via the C4I architecture
to GCCS-M and other C4I nodes.

Fully Autonomous Operations

December 18, 2006

Navy Manned-Unmanned Operations

No pilot in the loop required for launch

or recovery
Manual override capability
In flight mission plan update capability
Light Harpoon restraint system

All data is available through the signal entry panel,

including RS-170, RGB, Fiber Optics, Ethernet, ATM, FDDI
and Fiber Optic Ethernet. The CS houses an air vehicle
operator (AVO), a mission payload operator (MPO) and
a mission commander (MC).

Expanded flight envelope

Minimal impact on host ship operations
Minimal support personnel requirements

The Control System for Fire Scout in the Navy is

integrated into the Integrated Communication Center
(ICC) aboard Littoral Combat Ship. There are also versions
of this system that are constructed to be contained in
a roll on/roll off shelter or mounted on a High Mobility
Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) for land-based
and mobile operations.
The CS has the ability to perform pre-mission planning
for the air vehicle and payload. It can also upload new
missions real-time and perform override control of both
vehicle and payload.

Ready to Deliver

UHF/VHF (3)

The MQ-8B Fire Scout provides an unprecedented

ability to detect, identify, and target tactical threats
at sea or ashore. Fire Scouts ability to fly multiple
payloads such as radar and electro-optical/infrared
sensors allows downlink
of broad area surveillance
and target-specific full
motion video to decision
makers.
Electro-Optical
Image

Infrared Image

Force Multiplier...
The Fire Scout System allows for the full use of multiple
onboard sensors and payloads for Over the Horizon Targeting,
Communications Relay, Threat Detection, Intelligence Gathering,
Precision Strike Support and real time Battle Damage Assessment.

Fire Scout provides

continuous situational
awareness and proven
reliability, flexibility, and
maintainability. Already
on contract with the
U.S. Navy, Fire Scout
will dramatically expand
capacity to gather
intelligence and act with
devastating speed.

Folding Rotors

GPS Antenna (1)

Flight Control Actuators

Fuel Tank

System Requirements

Meeting the Armed Forces System Needs

Autonomous operations from all air-capable ships

>8 hours continuous system on station coverage
Ceiling and airspeed: 20,000 ft, 115+ kts
>5 hours on station time (single vehicle) at 110 nm
Interoperability through Tactical Control System (TCS)
software and STANAG 4586 Compliance

Providing organic Intelligence, Surveillance,

Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR/T) capabilities
Provides Over The Horizon (OTH) targeting
Provides real-time Battle Damage Assessment
Implements network centric warfare concepts with
communications relay capability
Defense IT Standard Registry/Joint Technical Architecture
(DIST/JTA) compliant
Fully interoperable between land and sea-based Tactical
Control Systems

Payload Features

Modular Mission Payloads (MMP)

Plug and play product
Baseline MMP capability
EO/IR laser range finder illuminator
Voice/data communication relay
600 pound payload lift capacity
Growth payloads
Tactical Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR/MTI),
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), Traffic Collision
Avoidance System (TCAS), SATCOM, Sonobuoy
delivery, expendables employment, threat
countermeasures, mine detection, etc...

GPS Antenna (2)

Tactical
Common
Datalink
Antenna (1)
Shielded Avionics
Compartment

Radar Altimeter Antenna (1)

UHF/VHF Antenna (1)
Radar Altimeter Antenna (2)
Engine Intake Barrier Filter
Turboshaft Engine

Legacy of High Reliability

Based on a Schweizer Aircraft commercial airframe with

over 20 million flight hours, the Fire Scout vehicle
incorporates reliable turbine power (160 million flight hours)
using standard NATO heavy fuel. Leveraging from this FAA
certified aircraft with commonality of over 50 percent of the
mechanical parts, the servicing and logistical processes are
well known, proven and documented. This low risk approach
for the airframe allows effective maturation of the entire
system within a short development schedule.

UHF/VHF
Antenna (2)

Tactical Common Datalink Antenna (2)

UCARS
Antenna

Light Harpoon Landing Restraint System

Modular Mission Payload

(EO/IR Laser Pointer and Range Finder)

MQ-8B FIRE SCOUT

AEROSPACE SYSTEMS
STRIKE AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS DIVISION

Ver tical Takeof f and Landing

Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System

MQ-8B Fire Scout

Air Vehicle Specifications
United States Navy
Air Vehicle
Fuselage Length (with Dual Payload Nose):

23.95 ft (7.3 m)
Fuselage Width:

6.20 ft (1.9 m)
Length (with Blades Folded Forward):

30.03 ft (9.2 m)
Rotor Diameter:

27.50 ft (8.4 m)
Height (Top of Tail Antenna):

9.71 ft (2.9 m)
Gross Weight:

3,150 lbs (1428.8 kg)
Engine:

Rolls Royce 250-C20W

Turboshaft Engine
Speed:

115+ Knots
Ceiling:

20,000 ft (6.1 km)

9.71 ft

23.95 ft

27.50 ft

Endurance
Total Flight Time with Baseline Payload:

8+ Hours
Total Flight Time with EO/IR + Radar:

7+ Hours
Total Flight Time with Maximum Payload:

5+ Hours
Payloads

Operational Scenario
The Fire Scout VTUAV system is capable of
operating from any air-capable Navy ship and
will be primarily based aboard the Navys newest
surface combatant, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Fire Scout is a critical contributor to the ships
three primary missions: Anti-Submarine Warfare,
Surface Warfare, and Mine Warfare. Operational
concepts allow for the Fire Scout to transition
through multiple roles while it provides support
throughout the Joint Battle Space.
Through rapid reconfiguration facilitated by
modular payload architecture and defined interface
specifications, Fire Scout is able to adapt to the
mission at hand and provide real time ISR/T to the
operational commander. Fire Scout is the perfect
asset to detect and engage swarming boats,
ensure landing areas are clear for amphibious

craft, provide overhead communications relay, and conduct

intelligence gathering and targeting on relocatable targets.
As battlefield preparation continues and enemy forces are
engaged, the Fire Scout can provide Over-the-Horizon (OTH)
targeting for U.S.Navy ship-launched weapons or land-based
artillery to strike targets that are well beyond normal Lineof-Sight (LOS) sensors.
Fire Scout missions will be expanded through spiral
development of requirements and capabilities. These
would include maritime surveillance radar, signals and
communications intelligence gathering, magnetic anomaly
detectors, and satellite communications. The Fire Scout
VTUAV will provide additional capabilities as it increases the
number of payloads employed and will allow the operational
commander to dramatically augment his situational awareness
and responsiveness.

Star SAFIRE III

EO/IR/LRF

U.S. Navy
Baseline
EO/IR/LRF

Mine Detector

UHF/VHF
Comm Relay

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

STRIKE AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS DIVISION

P.O. Box 509066 San Diego California 92150-9066
w w w.nor thropgrumman.com/unmanned
Contact Info:
Brooks McKinney (310) 331-6610 Email: brooks.mckinney@ngc.com
Approved for Public Release Distribution Unlimited
NAVAIR 09-413 Dated 8 February 2010
Revised Cover: NAVAIR 10-604 Dated 28 April 2010
VM00-AS-4873_04_10

Maritime Radar

7.85 ft

MQ-8B FIRE SCOUT

AEROSPACE SYSTEMS
STRIKE AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS DIVISION

Ver tical Takeof f and Landing

Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System

MQ-8B Fire Scout

Air Vehicle Specifications
United States Navy
Air Vehicle
Fuselage Length (with Dual Payload Nose):

23.95 ft (7.3 m)
Fuselage Width:

6.20 ft (1.9 m)
Length (with Blades Folded Forward):

30.03 ft (9.2 m)
Rotor Diameter:

27.50 ft (8.4 m)
Height (Top of Tail Antenna):

9.71 ft (2.9 m)
Gross Weight:

3,150 lbs (1428.8 kg)
Engine:

Rolls Royce 250-C20W

Turboshaft Engine
Speed:

115+ Knots
Ceiling:

20,000 ft (6.1 km)

9.71 ft

23.95 ft

27.50 ft

Endurance
Total Flight Time with Baseline Payload:

8+ Hours
Total Flight Time with EO/IR + Radar:

7+ Hours
Total Flight Time with Maximum Payload:

5+ Hours
Payloads

Operational Scenario
The Fire Scout VTUAV system is capable of
operating from any air-capable Navy ship and
will be primarily based aboard the Navys newest
surface combatant, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Fire Scout is a critical contributor to the ships
three primary missions: Anti-Submarine Warfare,
Surface Warfare, and Mine Warfare. Operational
concepts allow for the Fire Scout to transition
through multiple roles while it provides support
throughout the Joint Battle Space.
Through rapid reconfiguration facilitated by
modular payload architecture and defined interface
specifications, Fire Scout is able to adapt to the
mission at hand and provide real time ISR/T to the
operational commander. Fire Scout is the perfect
asset to detect and engage swarming boats,
ensure landing areas are clear for amphibious

craft, provide overhead communications relay, and conduct

intelligence gathering and targeting on relocatable targets.
As battlefield preparation continues and enemy forces are
engaged, the Fire Scout can provide Over-the-Horizon (OTH)
targeting for U.S.Navy ship-launched weapons or land-based
artillery to strike targets that are well beyond normal Lineof-Sight (LOS) sensors.
Fire Scout missions will be expanded through spiral
development of requirements and capabilities. These
would include maritime surveillance radar, signals and
communications intelligence gathering, magnetic anomaly
detectors, and satellite communications. The Fire Scout
VTUAV will provide additional capabilities as it increases the
number of payloads employed and will allow the operational
commander to dramatically augment his situational awareness
and responsiveness.

Star SAFIRE III

EO/IR/LRF

U.S. Navy
Baseline
EO/IR/LRF

Mine Detector

UHF/VHF
Comm Relay

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

STRIKE AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS DIVISION

P.O. Box 509066 San Diego California 92150-9066
w w w.nor thropgrumman.com/unmanned
Contact Info:
Brooks McKinney (310) 331-6610 Email: brooks.mckinney@ngc.com
Approved for Public Release Distribution Unlimited
NAVAIR 09-413 Dated 8 February 2010
Revised Cover: NAVAIR 10-604 Dated 28 April 2010
VM00-AS-4873_04_10

Maritime Radar

7.85 ft