FIRE SCOUT UAV LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SYSTEM PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

摘要

The MQ-8 (Fire Scout) unmanned air system (UAS) has been selected as the ship-based vertical takeoff and landing UAS. The baseline version of Fire Scout, MQ-8B, along with all its improved derivatives are required to undergo ship suitability assessments in the form of dynamic interface (DI) testing, also known as helicopter-ship qualification analysis, aboard the ship. DI testing evaluates all aspects of shipboard helicopter compatibility including the adequacy, effectiveness, and safety of shipboard aviation support facilities and/or procedures for all ship-based helicopter types. Air vehicle specific support facilities include devices used for air vehicle launch and recovery. This paper provides a discussion of the improvements associated with the MQ-8 (Fire Scout) system focusing on the launch and recovery process and equipment, driven by a need for launch and recovery systems requiring few or no people to operate; systems that require reduced time to execute launch and recovery or tempo on the deck; and provides improved system reliability whilst being simple to maintain. Analysis is made of various candidate launch and recovery system approaches on air vehicle responses, comparing the baseline MQ-8 system with its derivatives planned over the next generation. At-sea preliminary validation study results are discussed and compared with simulated scenarios. Results are presented in relation to deck energy problems normally confronted by a helicopter during recovery in progressively difficult conditions.