US Navy receives first operational MQ-8C Fire Scout
The first operational MQ-8C Fire Scout has been delivered to the US Navy by Northrop Grumman, the company announced on 3 December.
The MQ-8C is an upgraded version of the existing MQ-8B Fire Scout using a larger airframe. It will be used by ship-based commanders to improve the navy's intelligence-gathering capabilities, flying nearly twice as long and carry three times more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads than the MQ-8B.
First shipboard test flights for the MQ-8C are scheduled to be conducted from USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) over the coming months, when the navy will assess the system for operational use.
Northrop Grumman is under contract to build 19 MQ-8C Fire Scouts, including two test aircraft. The US Navy plans to purchase a total of 70 aircraft.
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