MQ-8 UAV

Abstract

MQ-8 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Joint Military Intelligence Program. The MQ-8 (popular name "Fire Scout") Vertical Take-off Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) provides real-time and non-real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data to tactical users without the use of manned aircraft or reliance on limited joint theater or national assets. The baseline MQ-8 can accomplish missions including over-the-horizon tactical reconnaissance, classification, targeting, laser designation and battle management (including communications relay). The MQ-8 launches and recovers vertically and can operate from air capable ships, as well as confined area land bases. Other characteristics include autonomous air vehicle launch and recovery, autonomous waypoint navigation with command override capability, the incorporation of weapons, the incorporation of an electro-optical/infra-red/laser designator-laser range finder modular mission payload, radar and other specialty payloads. Interoperability is achieved through the use of the Tactical Control System software in the ground control station, and through the use of the Tactical Common Data Link. The data from the MQ-8 will be provided through standard Department of Defense Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2013
Source ID
0305231N_7_1319_PB_2013
Change Summary Explanation
Technical: Navy VTUAV restructured to transition on-going Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) initiatives for MQ-8C Endurance Upgrade, radar, weapons, and Special Operations Forces ISR payloads into VTUAV program. Schedule: Acquisition milestones have been adjusted due to technical changes: - Moved MQ-8 Full Rate Production (FRP) from 2Q FY15 to 4Q FY12. - MQ-8 Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) Initial Operational Capability deleted due to Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) process. - Littoral Combat Ship Integration added to System Development. - System Development efforts updated to reflect Radar, Weapons and other payloads RDC. - Weapons Review name changed to MQ-8C RDC to support radar, weapons, and SOF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance payloads. - With transition of ongoing payload initiatives, reviews for System Readiness Review, Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review and Quick Reaction Assessments. - Specialty Payloads Review added to support ongoing payload initiatives. - With the change in FRP from 2Q FY15 to 4Q FY12 award and delivery dates have been adjusted. - Production milestones and deliveries were updated to reflect MQ-8 RDC and FRP milestones.
Service Agency Name
Navy

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Command And Control
  • Deployment
  • Engineering
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Identification Systems
  • Laser Target Designators
  • Littoral Combat Ships
  • Logistics
  • Logistics Support
  • Navy
  • Rapid Deployment
  • Surveillance
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Directed Energy
  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control

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