On 17 December, the 100th anniversary of manned flight, the U.S. Navy's RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) system made its own history by completing its 100th flight.

This milestone flight occurred at Webster Field near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. where Fire Scout is conducting flight tests for system development and testing in preparation for test flight operations onboard USS Denver (LPD-9). Thus far, Fire Scout has completed 18 months and approximately 75 hours of flight tests. The most recent flight accomplishment is highlighted with Tactical Control System (TCS) command and control level V from take-off to landing by an airborne U.S. Navy P-3 Orion manned aircraft on 19 December.

TCS is the common ground control station architecture for UAVs. TCS provides command and control of UAVs and their payloads, as well as data dissemination to designated C4I systems. TCS will provide the capability to operate different types of UAVs and payloads from a single ground station. Fire Scout is the first UAV system to be TCS Block 2 software compliant.

Fire Scout begins production of eight air vehicles this fiscal year. Additionally a performance improvement program to develop and flight-test a 4-bladed main rotor system with improved airfoil blades, and a weapons program to provide Fire Scout a precision strike capability are being considered. A 4-bladed manned version of the Fire Scout air vehicle has already flown. Engineering checks for the weapons program were completed for the installation of 2.75” rocket launchers that will carry Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser guided rockets. Live firings will take place early in calendar year 2004 with unguided rockets followed by a guided version when available.

The Fire Scout Vertical Take-off and Landing UAV System is being developed for the U.S. Navy by Northrop Grumman Corporation to be fully autonomous requiring limited operator intervention. The system is designed to provide situational awareness and precision targeting support for the Navy and Marine Corps. The program is managed by the Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation, (PEO(W)) co-located at the NAVAIR complex in Patuxent River, Md.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch and recovery; from sensor data to precision targeting and real-time communications; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment and sustainment; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.