MQ-8 UAV

Abstract

The MQ-8 Unmanned Air System is a Joint Military Intelligence Program. The MQ-8 Unmanned Air System is popularly known as "Fire Scout". The program achieved MS C in June 2017. The program includes MQ-8B air vehicles, MQ-8C air vehicles, and associated Mission Control Systems (MCS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Common Automatic Recovery Systems (UCARS) and support equipment. In addition to the air vehicles, Radar and Weapons capabilities were developed under the Navy's Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) authorities. All acquisition actions previously planned under the RDCs have transitioned into the Program of Record (POR). Current analysis has determined that a total procurement of 68 air vehicles will satisfy current and foreseeable operational needs. The MQ-8 System 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 damage assessment (including voice communications relay). Development efforts respond to emerging fleet requirements through integration and improvements to Common Operational Picture capabilities, avionics, payloads, range, endurance, and targeting. The MQ-8 launches and recovers vertically, and can operate from suitably-equipped air capable ships, as well as confined area land bases. Interoperability is achieved through the use of the Tactical Control System (TCS) software in the MCS, also referred to as a Ground Control Station (GCS), and through the use of the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). The data from the MQ-8 is provided through standard DoD Command, Control, Communications, Computers and ISR (C4ISR) system architectures and protocols. A deployed MQ-8 system includes air vehicle(s), payloads (i.e. electro-optical/infrared/laser designator-range finder, Automated Identification System, voice 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. The schedules for MCS and UCARS components are based on host ship requirements, while schedules for air vehicle components, support equipment, and training equipment are based on operational deployment plans. A limited number of land-based mission control systems 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. MQ-8 systems will support missions on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Expeditionary Mobile Base (T-ESB), FFG(X), and/or suitably-equipped air capable ships. Quantities of air vehicles are derived from LCS and/or suitably-equipped air capable ship deployment requirements for Surface Warfare and Mine Countermeasures mission sets. The MQ-8 Radar capability is the initial effort as part of the Surface Warfare (SUW) Increment of the MQ-8C. A non-developmental maritime Radar has been competitively selected for integration into the MQ-8C Fire Scout System. This system will provide the MQ-8 operators and the supported LCS, T-ESB and FFG(X) crew enhanced situational awareness of the Recognized Maritime Picture (RMP) by providing multiple operational modes to include surface search, track, Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) maritime target classification, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) target classification capabilities. The maritime Radar will be fully integrated with the Mission Control Systems (MCS) and ship's combat systems providing data in standardized format for ease of dissemination to other users. The MQ-8C Link-16 capability will disseminate sensor tack data to other Link-16 participants contributing to the Common Operational Picture. Both Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond (BLOS) capability will connect Fleet users and disadvantaged users increasing situational awareness. Additionally, the Link-16 In-Flight Target Update (IFTU) capability will allow for Network Enabled Weapon Targeting (NEW-T) for Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTH-T). Minotaur will be used to correlate sensor data and manage the Link-16 network. This budget prioritizes system wholeness to ensure program of record capabilities are fully integrated and support fleet requirements. System wholeness supports completion of MQ-8C operational test requirements, development of radar, and component redesign required to maintain system hardware.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2020
• Source ID: 0305231N_7_1319_PB_2020
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY 2020 funding request was reduced by $11.000 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. FY 2020 budget incorporates the execution delays caused by protest of the Radar Source Selection, while maintaining the Radar schedule. The additional increase to the FY 2020 budget is required to support critical activities which consist of conducting flight test, integration of MQ-8C Radar, and support Link-16 integration. The FY 2020 budget includes the addition of Link-16 to the Program of Record. The FY2019 budget increased due to Congressional Adds provided for Radar Integration ($5.5M) and Weapons Capability Integration ($8.8M). The Congressional Add for Radar Integration is required for MQ-8C Radar System wholeness in order to maintain the Radar schedule in support of IOC and deployment dates. The increase in FY2019 Radar funding supports Radar System Developmental Test (DT) in FY2019 and continued studies for MQ-8C Sense and Avoid (SAA) and Back-up Landing System capabilities to support MQ-8C operational employment with Radar. The Congressional add for Weapons Capability Integration ($8.8M) supports requirements outlined in the MQ-8C Capabilities Production Document (CPD), to include trade studies for MQ-8C weaponization. Technical: FY 2020 adds Link-16 capability with In-Flight Target Updates (IFTU) to Network Enabled Weapons for Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTH-T). Remaining FYDP funding supports completion of Radar development, MQ-8C and Radar test requirements, and continued weapons studies. Radar and weapons funding supports requirements outlined in the MQ-8C Capabilities Production Document (CPD). Test funding supports developmental test and operational test events to meet Initial Operational Capability (IOC), and deployment dates. Future payload efforts will be considered when developing current efforts. Schedule: Updated milestone reviews and contract award dates for Radar and Link-16. Added contract award dates for Weapons studies. Updated production and delivery schedules for the current production plan. Added Milestone reviews and contract award dates for Link-16.
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Cyber
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Sensors
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Aircrafts
• Collision Avoidance Systems
• Control Systems
• Deployment
• Ground Control Stations
• Identification Systems
• Littoral Combat Ships
• Logistics
• Procurement
• Radar
• Situational Awareness
• Synthetic Aperture Radar
• Target Classification
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• 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