U.S. Navy wants larger Fire Scout airframe

To meet an urgent special operations requirement for a sea-based medium-range surveillance platform, the US Navy plans to change the airframe of the Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned helicopter to extend endurance and payload. Funds are requested in fiscal 2012 to buy the first 12 MQ-8Cs, based on the Bell 407 commercial helicopter.

US Navy budget request wants more Super Hornets, Fire Scout UAVs

The US Navy's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012 is out, with the USN requesting the purchase of 28 more F/A-18E/F Hornets for the fiscal year making up a total of 67 by FY 2016. It also wants 12 Fire Scout UAVs, nine more than previously requested.

NORAD considered shooting down errant Fire Scout

Not too surprising, but it is reported that the US military considered shooting down the US Navy Fire Scout UAV that stopped responding to control inputs in August while undergoing flight testing near Washington DC.

USN: Wayward Fire Scout Was No Threat

U.S. Navy and industry sources say that the MQ-8 Fire Scout that headed into restricted airspace in earlier this month did not come close to Washington and did not threaten any government activities.

Fire Scout UAV strayed into restricted Washington airspace

A US Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter UAV strayed into restricted Washington airspace after control guidance was lost during a test flight in early August. Control links were restored after operators switched to another ground control station, averting a more serious incident.