Endgadget: US Navy's next-gen helicopter drone is ready for service
The MQ-8C Fire Scout can last longer and packs more powerful radar.
It took a few years, but the US Navy's beefier Fire Scout helicopter drone is finally ready for action... more or less. The military branch has declared that Northrop Grumman's MQ-8C has reached "initial operational capability," or the minimum state it needs to enter service. The new, Bell 407-based variant is considerably larger than its 8B predecessor, but it's also more capable. The 8C can last roughly twice as long in the air at 12 hours on station, and carry roughly three times the payload -- 701lbs, to be exact. It also packs new radar with a larger field of view and more modes, including air-to-air targeting.
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Update: US Navy's Helicopter Drone Is Ready For Combat (Zero Hedge)
WNU Editor: This helicopter drone will begin fleet operations and training aboard the Navy's littoral combat ships in FY2021.
