via ASDNews.
San Diego - The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)-built MQ-8B Fire
Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle
marked a new single-day flight record of 18 hours.
U.S. Navy operators achieved the record using a single aircraft in a
series of endurance flights Feb. 25 from the USS Halyburton (FFG 40).
Fire Scout is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
data to support anti-piracy missions while deployed on the ship for the
Navy's 5th Fleet.
I like it. The only thing really missing with these advancements is the lack of standardization. The K-MAX is about to enter service with the Marines as a cargo UAV and it would make sense to use either it or the Fire Scout for both missions. Current budget realities demand it. Still NGC is to be congratulated.
hey sol, i agree about standardization but K-MAX can lift 6000 lbs, fire scout has only 600 lbs of lift capacity? fire scout being smaller may be more flexible on smaller ships and such while K-MAX is better for heavy lifting like its doing. i guess i see it as more apples and oranges, but understand about standardization.
ReplyDeleteI agree with jp on all counts.
ReplyDeleteHowever the Navy is looking to put the MQ-8 avionics in a Bell 407 (think Kiowa), which has a larger 2000lbs or so payload. Not as much as KMAX, but I think it has more internal volume, which may be better for sensors. Also they are looking for Fire Scout to be more autonomous and longer ranged. So that will probably require a bigger aircraft. Right now it is LOS only.
I'm torn between Sol's idea: One airframe because small budgets and stadardization, and three airframes that are really good at their specific tasks.
This part of the aviation industry is still in its infancy and the DOD is shopping for several drastically different UACV or as I think they should be called Remotely Piloted Vehicles.
ReplyDeleteAll the a/c companies involved are trying to bring down production costs some by using existing airframes. What K-max has going for it is the proven rotor system and load capacity.
For the time being diversity is better.
totally disagree.
ReplyDeletethe K-MAX's larger lift capacity will easily translate into a larger weapons and sensor load.
its relatively small size will allow it to operate in numbers from smaller warships.
its ability to easily operate in mountainous terrain will prove valuable in the littoral zone where coastlines are often dotted with big hills (or small mountains).
besides ... we're broke. we need to buy one type and get the most out of it to save money.
dont get me wrong, i see Sol's points, and one unit would be best, it may mean a compromise of a somewhat smaller lift capacity but some downgrade of size to still allow it on some smaller ships like the POS LCS the navy is still buying.
ReplyDeleteThe LCS have already used the Fire Scout both operationally and in OT&E. That RPV is intended for LCS. But who is to say, that a K-Max might not be employed off an LCS in a future troop support mission?
ReplyDelete