Air International 2002-07 / Airscene

Third prototype Northrop Grumman RQ-8A Fire Scout VTUAV makes its first flight on May 19, 2002 at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, China Lake, California.

Air International 2011-11 / News

The US Marine Corps has flown a Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter (BuNo 168213) powered by a blend of conventional JP-5 fuel and biofuel derived from the camelina plant. The flight was undertaken on September 30, 2011 from Webster Field in Maryland, and was part of the US military's continuing effort to expand the use of biofuel for its aircraft operations. The Fire Scout is the seventh and final aircraft type to be powered by biofuel in the current series of tests.
According to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, sea-based aviation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, such as the MQ-8B Fire Scout, would be protected from the FY 2013 Defense budget cuts.

Air International 2005-09 / News: Headline, Military, Civil, Accidents

Northrop Grumman’s RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical takeoff UAV undertook a successful test firing on July 22, 2005 of two 2 3/4in Mk 66 unguided rockets during weapons testing at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, where it is seen here during firing of the second rocket. This marked the first successful live firing of a weapon from an autonomous unmanned helicopter.

Мировая Авиация 210

Важной особенностью MQ-8B является его способность к автономным полетам. На снимке один из RQ-8 раннего выпуска готовится к первой автономной посадке на корабль "Нешвилл" в 2006 году.

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

Air International 2011-01 / L.Nordeen, D.Isby - Rise of the UAV /Military/

БЛА MQ-8B "Файр Скаут"
A Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV is pictured about to land on the frigate USS McInerney (FFG-8) in May, 2009. This test included the first autonomous operational flight operations from a US Navy warship. Later that year, MQ-8Bs went on an operational deployment with the McInerney on counter-narcotics interdiction duties.

Air International 2007-02 / News: Headline, Military, Civil, Accidents

Upgraded Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout prototype 167784 undertakes its first flight at the Webster Field annexe of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, on December 18, 2006.

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

Мировая Авиация 210

Один из опытных RQ-8. Несмотря на вялый старт программы, использование аппаратов в районах конфликтов продемонстрировало достоинства вертикально взлетающих БЛА.

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

MQ-8B Fire Scout BuNo 167784 loaded with two three-tube rocket launchers each holding three inert WGU-59/B APKWS rockets.

Air International 2016-12 / Airscene

A radar-equipped MQ-8B Fire Scout approaches the 7,300 ft2 flight deck of the USS Coronado.

Air International 2015-02 / M.Ayton - Inaugural Deployment /Military/

An MQ-8B Fire Scout lifts off the flight deck of USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) during flight operations.

Air International 2012-04 / R.Burgess - Every Platform A Sensor /Military/

US Navy Fire Scouts are currently operating ashore and at sea.

Air International 2015-02 / M.Ayton - Inaugural Deployment /Military/

A sailor performs preflight checks on an MQ-8B Fire Scout assigned to HSM-35 aboard the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3).

Air International 2012-03 / News

A MQ-8B Fire Scout on the USS Simpson during the first solo deployment of the UAV without an embarked manned helicopter.

Air International 2015-02 / M.Ayton - Inaugural Deployment /Military/

Sailors assigned to HSM-35, Detachment 1, prepare an MQ-8B Fire Scout for stowage on the flight deck of the USS Fort Worth (LCS 3).

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

Two Fire Scouts chained to the aft landing deck of USS Halyburton awaiting flight operations.

Air International 2011-09 / News

MQ-8B Fire Scouts BuNos 168212 (c/n N-15) and 167787 (N-4) on the deck of the USS Halyburton at the conclusion of their seven-month deployment with HSL-42 Det 2.

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

A Fire Scout 'on the perch’ immediately prior to landing at a land base in Afghanistan.

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

MQ-8B Fire Scout BuNo 168442 approaches the landing spot at Webster Field, Maryland.

Air International 2014-08 / News

Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout BuNo 168213 completed its first flight equipped with a Telephonies Corporation AN/ZPY-4(v)1 (RDR1700B+) multi-mode maritime surveillance radar mounted in a nose radome on June 16, 2014 at the Webster Field Annex at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The AN/ZPY-4(v)1 can operate in synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indicator modes and will complement the turret-mounted FLIR Systems Brite Star II electro-optical/infrared system under the forward fuselage. An initial deployment with the Fire Scout carrying the new sensor is due next year.

Air International 2007-10 / News: Headline, Military, Civil, Airshow, Accidents

US Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV) 167786 is loaded onto US Marine Corps/VMGR-234 KC-130T 162308 'QH-308' at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center at Moss Point, Mississippi, for transport to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, for flight testing. Announcing the delivery on September 10, 2007, Northrop Grumman said this was the first time a Fire Scout had been carried on a KC-130T. An Army MQ-8B Future Combat Systems Class IV VTUAV was also loaded into the KC-130T to confirm that it could carry two of the type at once, but the Army MQ-8B was not transported.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Lockheed HC-130 / KC-130 / MC-130 - СШАUSA - 1959

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

Close-up shot of the three-tube launcher fitted to an MQ-8B, and loaded with three 2.75-inch WGU-59/B test rockets.

Авиация и Время 2016-03 / А.Совенко - XXI век. В небе - роботы (1)

Разведывательно-ударный беспилотный вертолет MQ-8B «Файр Скаут» ведет огонь неуправляемыми ракетами

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

Fire Scout operators in the training simulator located at NAS Jacksonville, Florida.

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

Cutaway diagram showing the main components of an MQ-8B Fire Scout.

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

Air International 2013-06 / M.Ayton - On the Perch /Military/

This diagram of a WGU-59/B APKWS shows the main components of the rocket system now carried by Fire Scout.