Navy gets new Fire Scout helicopter UAV

VIRIN: 131031-N-SW486-022

 Point MUGU, Calif. — (Oct. 31, 2013) — An MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu. The Navy's newest variant of the Fire Scout unmanned helicopter completed its first day of flying Oct. 31 with two flights reaching 500 feet altitude. The MQ-8C air vehicle upgrade will provide longer endurance, range, and greater payload capability than the MQ-8B. Initial operating capability for the MQ-8C is planned for 2016, with the potential for an early deployment in 2014.
(U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman/Released)
 
Navy taps new Fire Scout helicopter drone | Fox News
The latest Fire Scout helicopter is better, faster and stronger with twice the stamina for missions. Even more impressively - it flies by itself.
Earlier this week Northrop Grumman delivered the first operational MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy.
The latest version of the Fire Scout is a significant upgrade - it can fly nearly twice as long and carry three times more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads.
It is expected to be the first upgraded Fire Scout to deploy for the Navy.
The MQ-8C Fire Scout is a fully autonomous helicopter operating with four blades and a single-engine. This is no toy sized helicopter drone - at about 40 feet long, nearly 11 feet high and just under 8 feet wide, it is the same size as a traditional helicopter.

US Navy receives the first of 19 MQ-8C unmanned helicopters | Defense Update:
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC ) has delivered the first operational MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to the U.S. Navy. The rotary wing drone is currently based at Point Mugu, CA for evaluations. As part of its operational evaluation the rotary wing drone will embark on its first ship-board flight tests campaign aboard the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) during the winter of 2015.  “The test program will run through the summer as we expect these aircraft to be ready for operations by year’s end,” said George Vardoulakis, vice president for medium range tactical systems with Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman is under contract to build 19 MQ-8C Fire Scouts, including two test aircraft. The Navy plans to purchase 70 aircraft total.  The system will be used by ship-based commanders to improve the Navy’s intelligence-gathering capabilities.