MQ-8 Fire Scout
Abstract
There is no funding requested in FY2025 based on a Navy decision to divest of current inventory of MQ-8C Air Vehicles (AVs) and associated equipment. Funding is provided for development efforts in response to emerging fleet requirements through integration and improvements to Common Operational Picture (COP) capabilities, avionics, payloads, range, endurance, and targeting. The MQ-8 Radar capability was the initial effort as part of the Surface Warfare (SUW) Increment of the MQ-8C. A non-developmental maritime Radar was competitively selected and integrated into the MQ-8C Fire Scout System. The Radar provides 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 is 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. Integration of the Radar capability also includes integration of the Minotaur mission management software on both the AV and MCS. Minotaur software was integrated as part of the SUW Increment and provides the operator interface and command and control for the Radar, Electro-optical Infrared (EO/IR), and automatic information system (AIS) payloads and future mission payloads; map management; and sensor track correlation. The MQ-8C data link network capability will disseminate sensor track data to other data link network participants contributing to the COP. Line-of-Sight (LOS) capability will connect Fleet users and disadvantaged users increasing situational awareness. Additionally, the data link network will be capable of passing weapons quality tracks and updates for Network Enabled Weapon Targeting (NEW-T) for Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTH-T). The optical sensor system will provide the MQ-8C the ability to land on ships during emissions control (EMCON) operations without requiring the use of UCARS, expanding the number of ships upon which the MQ-8C could land and mitigating reliability risks and operational risks with the UCARS system. The optical sensor system may also be utilized as part of a future due regard capability to detect potential air-to-air collision threats in time to react to them. Updates will continue to the Minotaur software, AV software, and TCS software to integrate additional payloads and incorporate cyber enhancements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 2768_0305231N_7_1319_PB_2025
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