# Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout
The **Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout** is an unmanned autonomous helicopter system built for the [United States Navy](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-navy) to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR&T), laser designation, and battle management from ships or land sites without relying on manned aircraft or space-based assets.[1](https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/fire-scout) Two variants have been fielded: the smaller MQ-8B, derived from the Schweizer 330 helicopter, and the larger MQ-8C, based on the commercial [Bell 407](https://www.edgepedia.org/bell-407).[1](https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/fire-scout) • [2](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2166554/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/) The Navy began divesting the system in fiscal year 2024.[3](https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/25pres/APN_BA1-4_Book.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Ship-based and land-based autonomous vertical takeoff and landing tactical UAV for ISR&T, laser designation, and battle management[1](https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/fire-scout) |
| Variants | MQ-8B (Schweizer 330-derived) and MQ-8C (Bell 407-based); the MQ-8C shares 90 percent of its technology with the MQ-8B[2](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2166554/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/) • [4](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-360sp.pdf) |
| MQ-8B performance | Cruise 80 knots, max 85 knots, ceiling 12,500 ft, 5.5 hours endurance with a 300 lb payload; three air vehicles sustain 12 continuous hours of coverage 110 nautical miles from the launch site[5](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2160446/mq-8b-fire-scout/) |
| MQ-8C performance | Range 150 nautical miles, payload over 700 lb, max speed 135 knots, ceiling 16,000 ft, 12 hours endurance with a 300 lb payload[6](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2159302/mq-8c-fire-scout/mq-8c-fire-scout/) |
| Procurement | 68 air vehicles total: 30 MQ-8B and 38 MQ-8C; flyaway unit cost $17.24 million, gross weapon system unit cost $24.19 million[7](https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/26pres/OMN_Book.pdf) • [3](https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/25pres/APN_BA1-4_Book.pdf) |
| Status | Navy divestment began in FY 2024; operational employment of the MQ-8C ended in Q4 FY2024 with sundown planned by Q4 FY2026[3](https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/25pres/APN_BA1-4_Book.pdf) |
## Variants and design
The system began as the Navy's vertical takeoff and landing tactical UAV (VTUAV), originally designated RQ-8A. During the summer of 2005 it was redesignated MQ-8B to reflect an increased, multi-functional role, and the enhanced variant made its first flight in December 2006 at the Webster Field annex of Patuxent River Naval Air Station.[8](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/9001) The MQ-8B air vehicle is based on the Schweizer Aircraft model 330 helicopter and carries a baseline payload of electro-optical/infrared sensors and a laser designator, with UHF/VHF voice communications relay.[2](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2166554/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/) Its Brite Star II turret combines electro-optical/infrared imaging with a laser designator-range finder, supplemented by a maritime search radar and modular payloads.[5](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2160446/mq-8b-fire-scout/)
The **MQ-8C** is the larger follow-on. Its airframe is the commercial Bell 407, a helicopter with more than 1,600 airframes produced and over 4.4 million flight hours, paired with [Northrop Grumman](https://www.edgepedia.org/northrop-grumman)'s autonomous systems architecture.[1](https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/fire-scout) According to program officials, the MQ-8C shares 90 percent of its technology with the MQ-8B, the primary differences being two structural modifications to accommodate the larger airframe and fuel system.[4](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-360sp.pdf) The Navy initiated MQ-8C acquisition in April 2012 under its rapid deployment capability procurement process, which bypassed many standard acquisition practices in favor of a faster cycle.[4](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-360sp.pdf) In 2012 Northrop Grumman won a $262.3 million contract for two test vehicles and six operational aircraft; the Navy took delivery of the first MQ-8C at Point Mugu in July 2013.[9](https://news.usni.org/2013/07/22/navy-takes-delivery-of-next-generation-fire-scout) The MQ-8C first flew on October 31, 2013, in a seven-minute flight to validate the autonomous control systems, followed the same day by a second flight reaching 500 feet.[10](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/20526) Compared with the MQ-8B it more than doubles range and endurance and more than triples payload capacity.[1](https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/fire-scout)
## Operational service
The MQ-8B made its first deployment in October 2009 aboard the frigate USS McInerney (FFG-8), joining the 4th Fleet for counter-narcotics operations; at that point the aircraft had completed over 600 hours of flight testing, including 110 takeoffs and landings from a frigate.[11](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/10191) In late April 2011 it made its first land-based deployment, to northern Afghanistan in response to a DoD ISR Task Force request; the first flight in theater came on May 2, and PMA-266 Detachment Alpha established initial operational capability 19 days later.[12](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/17341) Northrop Grumman reports the MQ-8B system has completed more than 16,600 flight hours over 6,200 sorties, and the Navy integrated a multi-mode maritime radar on the type and tested an onboard weapons capability, the [Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System](https://www.edgepedia.org/advanced-precision-kill-weapon-system) (APKWS).[1](https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/fire-scout) An MQ-8B crashed after hitting the littoral combat ship USS Charleston in 2021; no one was injured and the ship continued operating.[13](https://www.cpf.navy.mil/newsroom/news/article/2632848/fire-scout-crashes-after-hitting-uss-charleston/)
The MQ-8C reached initial operational capability in June 2019, but the Navy waited to deploy it until integration of the Leonardo ZPY-8 surface search radar was complete.[14](https://seapowermagazine.org/radar-integration-determined-deployment-timing-of-navys-mq-8c-fire-scout/) Its first operational deployment began December 14, 2021, aboard USS Milwaukee (LCS-5) in the U.S. 4th Fleet area for counter-narcotics operations, with HSC-22 Detachment 5 employing the Fire Scout alongside an MH-60S Seahawk.[15](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3025181/navys-mq-8c-fire-scout-deploys-with-radar-upgrade-aboard-uss-milwaukee/) In May 2023 the Navy announced the type's first Indo-Pacific Command deployment, aboard USS Jackson (LCS 6), with HSC-21 and HSC-23 as the primary operators.[16](https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/air/us-navy-deploys-northrop-grummans-mq-8c-fire-scout-to-the-pacific) In June and July 2022 an MQ-8C flew 23 hours in the Resolute Hunter exercise, launching from Point Mugu and handing off control to a Portable Mission Control Station at [San Clemente Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-clemente-island), demonstrating ship-to-shore transition under the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concept.[17](https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/MQ-8-Fire-Scout-demonstrates-expeditionary-capability-during-Navy-exercise/Mon-08082022-1149)
## Sensors and upgrades
The Navy planned the MQ-8C as a forward spotter for surface ships: a 2017 upgrade added the Leonardo Osprey 30 active electronically scanned array radar and the [Link 16](https://www.edgepedia.org/link-16) datalink so the helicopter could distribute air-to-air and surface targeting information to ships in a surface action group.[18](https://news.usni.org/2017/12/12/fire-scout-set-to-be-forward-spotter-for-navy-surface-warfare-with-addition-of-radar-datalink) The deployed radar is the Leonardo Osprey AN/ZPY-8, which the Navy credits with a larger field of view and a range of digital modes for identifying, detecting, and tracking targets.[15](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3025181/navys-mq-8c-fire-scout-deploys-with-radar-upgrade-aboard-uss-milwaukee/) The system is also designed to cue targets for shipboard weapon systems and to provide remote target designation for precision-guided munitions fired by MH-60R/S helicopters.[19](https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2024/other/2024Annual-Report.pdf)
## Divestment and test findings
President's Budget 2023 removed all MQ-8B air vehicles from inventory and cut the MQ-8C operational fleet; by the FY2023 DOT&E report the inventory stood at 36 aircraft, with 11 dedicated to operational employment and 3 to test and training.[20](https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2023/other/2023annual-report.pdf) The FY2025 budget request contained no MQ-8 procurement funding, stating that the Navy would divest the MQ-8C at the conclusion of FY 2024, end operational employment in Q4 FY2024, and complete sundown by Q4 FY2026.[3](https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/25pres/APN_BA1-4_Book.pdf) In March 2024 the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force ended testing of the MQ-8C Surface Warfare (SUW) Increment before completing all requirements of the approved test plan, and DOT&E's FY2024 annual report assessed the SUW Increment as not operationally effective and not operationally suitable, noting that the baseline MQ-8C remains not cyber survivable as reported in the September 2019 IOT&E report.[19](https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2024/other/2024Annual-Report.pdf) The Navy has considered a Replicator-style approach for an MQ-8C replacement.[21](https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/debrief-us-navy-considers-replicator-approach-mq-8c-replacement)
## References
1. [Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman](https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/fire-scout)
2. [RQ-8A and MQ-8B Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), U.S. Navy Fact File](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2166554/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/rq-8a-and-mq-8b-fire-scout-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/)
3. [FY 2025 Navy Budget Justification Book, APN BA1-4, MQ-8 UAV (P-40 exhibit)](https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/25pres/APN_BA1-4_Book.pdf)
4. [GAO-18-360SP, Weapon Systems Annual Assessment: MQ-8 Fire Scout Program](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-360sp.pdf)
5. [MQ-8B Fire Scout, U.S. Navy Fact File](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2160446/mq-8b-fire-scout/)
6. [MQ-8C Fire Scout, U.S. Navy Fact File](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2159302/mq-8c-fire-scout/mq-8c-fire-scout/)
7. [FY 2026 Department of the Navy Budget, Other Munitions and Navy Programs book, Fire Scout MQ-8 Program](https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/Documents/26pres/OMN_Book.pdf)
8. [Enhanced Fire Scout Makes Flight Debut, NAVAIR (December 20, 2006)](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/9001)
9. [Navy Takes Delivery of Next Generation Fire Scout, USNI News (July 22, 2013)](https://news.usni.org/2013/07/22/navy-takes-delivery-of-next-generation-fire-scout)
10. [Navy's new Fire Scout unmanned helicopter takes its first flight, NAVAIR (October 31, 2013)](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/20526)
11. [Fire Scout departs for first deployment, NAVAIR (October 7, 2009)](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/10191)
12. [Fire Scout supports operations in Afghanistan, NAVAIR (June 14, 2011)](https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/17341)
13. [Fire Scout crashes after hitting USS Charleston, U.S. Pacific Fleet](https://www.cpf.navy.mil/newsroom/news/article/2632848/fire-scout-crashes-after-hitting-uss-charleston/)
14. [Radar Integration Determined Deployment Timing of Navy's MQ-8C Fire Scout, Seapower](https://seapowermagazine.org/radar-integration-determined-deployment-timing-of-navys-mq-8c-fire-scout/)
15. [Navy's MQ-8C Fire Scout Deploys with Radar Upgrade Aboard USS Milwaukee, U.S. Navy (May 9, 2022)](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3025181/navys-mq-8c-fire-scout-deploys-with-radar-upgrade-aboard-uss-milwaukee/)
16. [US Navy deploys Northrop Grumman's MQ-8C Fire Scout to the Pacific, Janes](https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/air/us-navy-deploys-northrop-grummans-mq-8c-fire-scout-to-the-pacific)
17. [MQ-8 Fire Scout demonstrates expeditionary capability during Navy exercise, NAVAIR (August 8, 2022)](https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/MQ-8-Fire-Scout-demonstrates-expeditionary-capability-during-Navy-exercise/Mon-08082022-1149)
18. [Fire Scout to Serve as Forward Spotter for Navy Surface Ships With Addition of Radar, Datalink, USNI News (December 12, 2017)](https://news.usni.org/2017/12/12/fire-scout-set-to-be-forward-spotter-for-navy-surface-warfare-with-addition-of-radar-datalink)
19. [DOT&E FY2024 Annual Report, MQ-8C](https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2024/other/2024Annual-Report.pdf)
20. [DOT&E FY2023 Annual Report, MQ-8C Fire Scout](https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2023/other/2023annual-report.pdf)
21. [U.S. Navy Considers Replicator Approach For MQ-8C Replacement, Aviation Week (April 22, 2024)](https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/debrief-us-navy-considers-replicator-approach-mq-8c-replacement)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Transport and spaceflight › Aviation › Aircraft › Experimental and advanced aircraft › Unmanned aircraft and drones › Military UAV designs by country*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
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