Northrop-Grumman MQ-8C Fire-X
Варианты:
Northrop-Grumman - MQ-8C Fire-X - 2010 - США
Страна: США
Год: 2010
Вертолет Беспилотный

The Fire-X demonstrator is seen during its first autonomous flight on December 10, 2010, at the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
The prototype Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout (BuNo 168455) made its maiden flight at Naval Base Ventura County, California, on October 31, 2013.
MQ-8C Fire Scout BuNo 168455/’VX’ takes off from Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu on the type’s maiden flight, when it reached an altitude of 500 feet.
The recent declaration of MQ-8C IOC opens the door for US Navy training and fleet operations to begin later this year.
Taking to the air for the first time on February 12, 2014 was the second Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout (BuNo 168456/‘VX’) vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle. The test flight was conducted at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, California. The first MQ-8C completed its initial flight in October 2013 and had flown 41 times accumulating 66 hours by the time the second had flown. Shipboard trials of the type will start later this year.
MQ-8C BuNo 168455/VX’ (c/n EMD-1) parked on the flight line at Point Mugu.
19 июля 2013г. компания Northrop Grumman сообщила, что ВМС США получили первый беспилотный вертолет MQ-8C Fire Scout, предназначенный для проведения испытаний. В отличие от предыдущей модели MQ-8B, новый "беспилотник" создан на базе коммерческого вертолета Bell 407.
MQ-8C Fire Scout BuNo 168455/'NG' arrives at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu, California, on July 8, 2013. VX-30 uses the tailcode 'BH' - 'NG‘ stands for the Fire Scout's prime contractor, Northrop Grumman.
The MQ-8C Fire Scout prepares for a precision landing on a sloped surface at Point Mugu.
An MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter conducts landing operations with the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4). The MQ-8C Fire Scout variant is expected to deploy with the LCS class to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, and precision targeting support.
MQ-8C Fire Scout BuNo 168455/'VX' hovers over the flight deck of USS Jason Dunham (DDG-102) during the type’s first period underway. The aircraft is fitted with a FLIR Systems BRITE Star II EO/IR targeting system, the turret of which is positioned on the nose.
MQ-8C на палубе LCS-4 «Коронадо», июль 2018 г.
The MQ-8C's initial operating capability from landing helicopter docks is expected this summer
Sailors assigned to USS Coronado (LCS 4) monitor flight operations from the helicopter control tower as an MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter prepares to launch. MQ-8C flight operations were conducted aboard the USS Coronado by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 'Pioneers'.
MQ-8C Fire Scout BuNo 168455 completes a test flight at Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu, one of 11 operational assessment events to validate the system’s performance, endurance and reliability.
The MQ-8C testing the Leonardo AN/ZPY-8 radar.
In addition to the mine-huting demo, Northrop Grumman has started flight­testing the first MQ-8C to be built at its Moss Point facility.
A compact AESA radar like the Osprey 30 means multi-domain operations can be carried out by a single radar on smaller platforms than was previously allowed. This is the variant that is fitted to the MQ-9 Firescout rotary UAV. The use of modular panel means the radar can be positioned on other parts of aircraft rather than just in the nose
Fire Scout performs its ISR tasking over land and sea.
Mounted on the forward fuselage of the MQ-8C, FLIR Systems BRITE Star II Multi-Sensor Targeting Imager is the baseline payload for the new Fire Scout.
The MQ-8C is capable of a variety of missions including vertical replenishment.
An MQ-8C is required to remain on station at 150 nautical miles from the ship for eight hours.
MQ-8C will undertake its maiden ship embarkation aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Dunham (DDG-109) at the end of next summer.