MQ-8 Fire Scout

Abstract

Funding decreases identified within this budget profile reflects the removal of ongoing and future capability improvements starting in FY23. The Fire Scout program has undergoing a partial divestiture and will maintain a limited segment of MQ-8C air vehicles to support LCS Mine Counter Measure (MCM) and Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW) missions. The MQ-8 Unmanned Air System (Fire Scout) program achieved MS C in June 2017. MQ-8C Unmanned Air System declared Initial Operational Capability in June 2019. 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). 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 (COP) 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, 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(SUW)and Mine Countermeasures mission sets. The MQ-8 Radar capability is the initial effort as part of the Surface Warfare 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 Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 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. This 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. The MQ-8C Weapons capability integration study evaluated weapons requirements outlined in the MQ-8C Capabilities Production Document (CPD). Weapons trade study was conducted to assess the mission effectiveness and potential impacts of adding candidate weapons systems to the MQ-8C Fire Scout in a SUW scenario. Additional trade studies have been conducted to analyze weapons platform integration, software architecture, stores management, and air vehicle structural requirements for addition of the MQ-8C Weapons capability.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 2768_0305231N_7_1319_PB_2023

Tags

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