RQ-8 Fire Scout

摘要

In February 2000, the Navy selected the Northrop Grumman RQ-8A Fire Scout VTUAV. The initial production version is the MQ-8B and Milestone C approval for low-rate-initial-production was granted in May 2007. The Navy began VTUAV procurement in FY07 to support the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), with an objective at the time of 168 air vehicles. However, delays in the LCS have led to navy to shift the host platform to FFG missile frigates for the time being. The Army selected the RQ-8B Fire Scout for its XM157 Class Ⅳ requirement. Fire Scout was planned for the Class Ⅳ-A at brigade level but the cancellation of the Future Combat System in 2009 led to the cancellation of the army requirement for Fire Scout.