MQ-8 UAV

Abstract

MQ-8 Unmanned Air System Joint Military Intelligence Program. The MQ-8 Unmanned Air System (popular name "Fire Scout") program went through a Title 10 Section 2433 (Nunn-McCurdy Breach) review in 2014 due to a unit cost breach. The Department certified a restructured program to Congress on 16 June 2014. The restructured program that was certified includes MQ-8B air vehicles procured under the original program of record, MQ-8C air vehicles procured under the Department of the Navy's Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) procurement process, and an additional 21 MQ-8C air vehicles to be procured to complete the program Fleet requirements of 70 air vehicles (61 procurement and 9 RDT&E), and associated Mission Control Stations (MCS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Common Automatic Recovery Systems (UCARS) and support equipment. The restructured program also includes the endurance upgrade, radar, and weapons capabilities, such as those developed under the Navy's RDC authorities. All acquisition actions previously planned under the RDCs have transitioned into the restructured program of record. The MQ-8B based system had an approved Milestone C (MS C) in May 2007. The Nunn-McCurdy certification process revoked the MS C approval. MS C for the restructured MQ-8 program is currently scheduled in the 2QFY16. The MQ-8 Fire Scout 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 and laser designation and battle management (including voice communication relay). The MQ-8 Fire Scout launches and recovers vertically, and can operate from any suitably equipped air capable ship, as well as area land bases. Interoperability is achieved through the use of the Tactical Control System (TCS) software integrated into the Mission Control Station (MCS) (also referred to as Ground Control Station (GCS)) and through the use of the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). The data from the MQ-8 will be provided through standard DoD Command, Control, Communications, Computers and ISR system architectures and protocols. A deployed MQ-8 System is comprised of: air vehicle(s), payloads (i.e. electro-optical/infra-red/laser designator-range finder, Automated Identification System, communications relay, radar, weapons, and other specialty payloads), MCS (with TCS and TCDL integrated for interoperability), a UCARS for automatic launch and recovery, and associated spares and support equipment. A limited number of land-based mission control stations supplement the shipboard systems to support shore-based operations, such as pre-deployment or acceptance functional check flights. These land-based mission control stations will also support depot-level maintenance/post-maintenance activities. The MQ-8C provides additional mission endurance and payload-weight-power, increased reliability, and improved maintainability to the MQ-8 Fire Scout System. The MQ-8C is a more cost efficient and capable air vehicle that meets the requirements of the updated Fire Scout Capability Production Document. The Navy plans to procure 40 MQ-8C air vehicles to support the Navy's fleet of small surface combatant suitably equipped air capable ships, including the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). This budget transitions the MQ-8C Endurance Upgrade, Radar, and Weapons capabilities into the Program of Record.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Source ID
0305231N_7_1319_PB_2016
Change Summary Explanation
Technical: FYDP funds support the Navy decision to transition MQ-8C Endurance Upgrade, Radar, and Weapons capabilities into the Program of Record. Schedule: Revised milestone terminology: Removed Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) terminology to align with transition of RDC capabilities to the program of record. Updated associated T&E events to remove reference to RDC. Updated Milestone C decision, MQ-8C IOC, T&E events, and other milestones to align to the restructured MQ-8 program. Updated Radar and Weapons capability contract awards and reviews. Adjusted production and delivery schedules for current and out-year procurements.
Service Agency Name
Navy

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

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

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Capable Ships
  • Aircrafts
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Deployment
  • Engineering
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Identification Systems
  • Littoral Combat Ships
  • Logistics
  • Logistics Support
  • Maintenance
  • Procurement
  • Rapid Deployment
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

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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