US Navy demos un/manned mixed aircraft fleet
The US Navy’s USS Freedom Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 1) was the setting for a mixed manned-unmanned aircraft fleet demonstration flight on 12 May, when the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout successfully flew simultaneously with the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter for the first time. The flight details were released on 11 June.
The capability demonstration, which aims to demonstrate how a mix of aircraft can increase a ship commander's intelligence-gathering capabilities, took place off the coast of San Diego.
The MQ-8B Fire Scout, which can takeoff autonomously and land from any aviation-capable warship, is on its eighth at-sea deployment supporting a variety of surveillance and security missions onboard US Navy frigates. Fire Scout complements the Sea Hawk because it can fly longer to maintain constant surveillance on a target or area of interest. It has the endurance to fly for five hours and has logged more than 12,500 flight hours from land and sea.
Capt. Patrick Smith, Fire Scout program manager, said: ‘Utilising the Fire Scout in operational maritime scenarios with manned aircraft will prove to be a unique asset to our fleet. The sensors of the Fire Scout are providing complimentary situational awareness and precision targeting support for the MH-60R Sea Hawk and Littoral Combat Ships.’
George Vardoulakis, vice president, medium range tactical systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, added: ‘Fire Scout is giving our warfighters enhanced persistent situational awareness. Fire Scout systems are providing critical information to the pilots of the MH-60R Sea Hawk and the sailors of the Littoral Combat Ship to ensure that they are protected from maritime threats.’
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