What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
Osprey radar for MQ-8C Fire Scout
The US Navy has selected Finmeccanica's Osprey AESA radar for its newly-upgraded Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter, the company announced on 17 October.
Under the new contract, an initial batch of five radars will be delivered to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for evaluation and testing. Once the testing is complete, NAVAIR will have the option to purchase more radar systems.
The company has already built several Osprey radars, so the primary task within the contract will be to integrate the system with the MQ-8C Fire Scout.
The AESA radar is designed to enable operators to spot threats that are beyond the range of standard ship-based sensors. An Osprey-equipped MQ-8C Fire Scout will use high-frequency radio waves to detect targets at long ranges in severe weather, night and other low-visibility conditions. Osprey's flat-panel technology enables it to be installed within the mould line of the helicopter rather than in an underslung belly-pod.
The two-panel radar will provide an instantaneous 240-degree field of view along with various digital modes such as air-to-air targeting, weather detection and a ground moving target indicator. It has an open architecture for the navy to insert future technologies, and an 'E-Scan' design with minimal moving parts for simplified maintenance.
The MQ-8C Fire Scout is expected to be integrated with the navy's littoral combat ships. The helicopter will be launched from the decks of the combat vessels to identify distant threats.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?]()
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
