Northrop Grumman's MQ-8 Fire Scout vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) takes off from Guthrie Field at Fort Rucker, Ala., on Oct. 21, 2005. Fire Scout performed a series of demonstrations at the home of U.S. Army aviation Oct. 21-22 as part of Fort Rucker's 50th anniversary celebration. Northrop Grumman is currently building eight Fire Scout UAVs for the Army and four for the U.S. Navy.

Before thousands of service members, their families and local community members, Fire Scout performed numerous flight demonstrations Oct. 21-22, illustrating the capabilities it can bring to soldiers and battlefield commanders.

"Fire Scout looked and performed great. It will be an important element of our manned-unmanned training and will make a big difference in the survivability of our aviators," said Brig. Gen. E.J. Sinclair, commanding general of the Army's Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Fire Scout will provide a bird's eye view of combat situations through real-time streaming video. In addition to the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission, Fire Scout can perform other missions such as delivery of supplies to soldiers in remote or dangerous locations, keeping pilots and air crews out of harm's way.

Another capability that Fire Scout can bring to the battlefield is weapons delivery. The MQ-8 Fire Scout demonstrated this capability at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona after successfully firing two 2.75 inch rockets, generating great interest by the Army and Navy.

The Fire Scout will serve as the largest UAV in the Army's network of manned and unmanned air vehicles that work together to perform a variety of functions on the battlefield. Fire Scout will perform reconnaissance and relay information as part of this network. Fire Scout is scheduled for deployment in 2011 but could be deployed by the Army four years early since it is significantly ahead of schedule.

The Fire Scout is also being developed to work on board the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship and to date has flown for more than 150 hours over the course of 170 flights. The Navy version of the Fire Scout is scheduled to demonstrate shipboard approaches and landings in the near future.

Related Links
Northrop Grumman
U.S. Army's Airworthiness Development and Test Center
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